Forest dept plans nature trail walkway at Vandalur zoo

The zoo administration is also working on a one-day zoo stay package for those coming from far. According to the proposal, visitors can book accommodation for two people by paying an amount of Rs 2,000. For children below 12 years, Rs 500 will be collected extra. Though the facility has started appearing in the zoo website, the package is yet to go into full stream, sources said.

The zoo, which recently developed a butterfly park and a walk-through aviary, is working on improving its tree cover, after the canopy was lost due to the Cyclone Vardah, sources said.

“The objective of the nature trail is to educate the children on birdlife and biodiversity. The trail will have murals and sculptures depicting the wildlife and forestry. We are also planning to put display boards to engage those taking a walk through the trail,” Deputy Director Sudha Raman told DT Next.

According to sources, the works are under way and it will take a few months for the project to be completed. The trail will pass through the elephant and giraffe enclosure areas and lead to the circuit road of the zoo. There is lion safari, deer safari, walk through aviary available in the zoo and this new nature trail will give another option for the visitors to explore the wild ambience. The zoo sources added that the number of people watching the animal yard through online facility has increased.

Welcoming the concept, wildlife biologist A Kumaraguru demanded large afforestation project inside the zoo, which was ravaged by Cyclone Vardah in 2016.