Prefab panels for the Singapore-style makeover of the Visakhapatnam Zoo

Members of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Committee on Conservation and Environment feed giraffes during an inspection of the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. | Photo credit: PAUL NICODEMUS

Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu on Tuesday pledged full support for the development of the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) as per international standards on the lines of Singapore’s Mandai Zoo after a day-long inspection by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Committee on Nature Conservation and Environment, which she heads.

“In every annual budget, the government must prioritize the zoo. Without priority, the situation lacks a clear direction,” said Mr. Ayyanna Patrudu after going through a presentation by IGZP Curator G. Mangamma.

Curator G. Mangamma highlighted the merits and challenges of the zoo before the committee. Chartered in 1972 and opened in 1977, the zoo spans 625 acres and houses 1,404 animals of 108 species in 81 enclosures. She said: “IGZP is the coordinating zoo for the breeding of Asian wild dogs (dhole). The zoo exchanged animals with four other zoos in 2025-26. The entire collection is looked after by a single veterinarian assisted by one assistant. Out of the 81 permitted slots, only 22 are occupied so far.”

Demanding measures to bridge the gap between the zoo’s income and its running costs, the spokesperson suggested that Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) could allocate funds for zoo maintenance. He also noted that the 120 factories in the region could contribute ₹ 2-3 crore annually under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Pointing to the insufficient number of toilets for nearly 4,000 daily visitors and the problem of drinking water, a spokesperson told the zoo administration: “Include water tanks in the requested budget; we will not leave this problem until it is solved.”

The panel also examined proposals for a bridge connecting the zoo to the Kambalakonda Eco Park, a new reptile complex, a neonatal intensive care unit at the zoo hospital and the addition of flagship species, including jaguar, puma, chimpanzee, hoolock gibbon and orangutan to the collection. After planting saplings, the members visited the Kambalakonda Nature Reserve and its animal rescue center and laid the foundation stone for another watchtower and pagoda.

Later in the afternoon, during a review meeting with officials of Forest, Revenue, Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) and Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) at the Collectorate, the spokesperson estimated the annual financial requirement of the zoo to be at least ₹10 crore. He said the committee would recommend a special action plan for conservation of nature, forests and environment, including legal reforms if necessary, in a summary report to the assembly. Collector M. Abhishikth Kishore said that ₹ 3 crore will be raised through CSR contributions. MLC Palavalasa Vikranth said the VMRDA study of the Mandai model would be ready by the end of August. The commission later informed the media.

MLA Kurugondla Ramakrishna, Gondu Sankara Rao, Chintamaneni Prabhakar and Vegesana Narendra Varma Raju, MLC Bendula Thirumala Naidu, PCCF PV Chalapathi Rao and Conservator of Forests I. Kasi Viswanadha Raju were present.

Published – 14 Jul 2026 21:29 IST