Former Minister for Zoos J. Chinchurani has called for dropping the move to relocate the Thiruvananthapuram zoo. She said the facility is a part of the State capital’s history and heritage. It also provides people, especially children, with an opportunity to get to know wild animals and nature from close quarters. It is also a popular spot among visitors to the city. Its relocation would be against public interest, a statement quoting the former Minister said.

A scientific makeover was needed to arrange modern facilities at the zoo and ensure the safety and welfare of the animals. If there were space limitations or lack of basic infrastructure, schemes should be prepared to address these. Instead of shifting the existing facility elsewhere, the government should prioritise development of the zoo with latest facilities, she said. The Minister, in the statement, pointed out that the zoo was not merely a space to exhibit animals. It was a learning centre for the new generations to understand nature and wildlife. It should be protected keeping its historical and educational importance, Ms. Chinchurani said.

A comprehensive renovation plan should be prepared by making full use of the projects implements earlier for zoo development and the resultant infrastructure that came up as well as seeking the opinion of experts. The development should be suited to the natural environment of the animals and ensure best amenities for visitors. There were reports that shifting the zoo to the forests inhabited by wildlife would lead to transmission of zoonotic diseases and threaten the wildlife population. This was also why the government should abandon the relocation proposal, she said.