Mysuru: Fresh weekend curbs are likely to take a toll on the revenue of Mysuru Zoo.
During the first and second waves, Mysuru Zoo, which is one of India’s top performers in terms of footfall, was hit by a lack of visitors, resulting in significant financial constraints. The zoo sought donors to manage the facility while promoting its animal adoption scheme, even as district minister ST Somashekar had helped it raise nearly Rs 1 crore.
Though the Zoo Authority of Karnataka Chairman LR Mahadevaswamy sought financial assistance in the form of the block grant, the state government is yet to extend it. While Dasara and the year-end season were good in terms of visitors, the zoo is again looking at a bleak future with the lockdowns and curfews.
The zoo needs funds to take care of the animals. Nearly 1,500 animals, birds, and reptiles of about 180 different species are housed here, and gorillas and chimps were added recently.
Mahadevaswamy told STOI that the authority has given representation to the government seeking funds for the management of all nine zoos including Mysuru Zoo and Bannerghatta Biological Park. The government has promised to reserve funds in the budget purely for its management. This is expected to alleviate the burden on the tourist facilities that have been self-reliant all these years, he said.
“We have decided to keep the Mysuru Zoo open on Tuesday, which happens to be weekly holiday for the facility,” the chairman stated adding that weekend curfew is likely to hit the tourist flow.
Mysuru Zoo executive director Ajit Kulkarni said that visitors’ number has been improving after the second wave of Covid. “There was a good flow of tourists in December and we were expecting the number to increase,” said the director.
During the first and second waves, Mysuru Zoo, which is one of India’s top performers in terms of footfall, was hit by a lack of visitors, resulting in significant financial constraints. The zoo sought donors to manage the facility while promoting its animal adoption scheme, even as district minister ST Somashekar had helped it raise nearly Rs 1 crore.
Though the Zoo Authority of Karnataka Chairman LR Mahadevaswamy sought financial assistance in the form of the block grant, the state government is yet to extend it. While Dasara and the year-end season were good in terms of visitors, the zoo is again looking at a bleak future with the lockdowns and curfews.
The zoo needs funds to take care of the animals. Nearly 1,500 animals, birds, and reptiles of about 180 different species are housed here, and gorillas and chimps were added recently.
Mahadevaswamy told STOI that the authority has given representation to the government seeking funds for the management of all nine zoos including Mysuru Zoo and Bannerghatta Biological Park. The government has promised to reserve funds in the budget purely for its management. This is expected to alleviate the burden on the tourist facilities that have been self-reliant all these years, he said.
“We have decided to keep the Mysuru Zoo open on Tuesday, which happens to be weekly holiday for the facility,” the chairman stated adding that weekend curfew is likely to hit the tourist flow.
Mysuru Zoo executive director Ajit Kulkarni said that visitors’ number has been improving after the second wave of Covid. “There was a good flow of tourists in December and we were expecting the number to increase,” said the director.
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