For seven years, Rudra the tiger, his orange coat glowing with the emerald wilderness, ruled the forest terrains of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary without issue.
But a wild territorial battle with another big cat for space and survival cost him all his canine teeth, which he used to cut food and fight his rivals.
Ostriches walk through Zululand – an African-themed zone of Thrissur Zoological Park, where every detail, from rugged terrain to thatched architecture, captures the wild spirit of the African savannah. | Photo credit: NAJEEB KK
The loss of his canines took away the power of his bite and deprived him of the ability to hunt in the wild. Weakened by hunger, Rudra started wandering beyond the edge of the forest and started looking for cattle and other easy prey in the human settlements of Surabhikkavala, Thanni Theruvu and Vadanakkavala near Pulpalla in Wayanad district.
The presence of the big cat in human dwellings caused fear and people demanded that the animal be captured and removed from the area.
Leopard in Thrissur Zoological Park. | Photo credit: NAJEEB KK
Finally, in February 2024, Rudra was trapped in a cage set up by forest officials at Vadanakkavala, ending his solitary foraging.
Re-releasing the tiger into the wild was not possible for wildlife managers because they feared that the animal would not survive in the wild and might return to the habitat in search of prey. No one thought of the possibility of returning to human settlements, because there was also the possibility that he would attack humans.
Finally, it was decided that the animal would be shifted to Thrissur Zoological Park in Puthur, one of Asia’s largest zoological parks. This proposal was widely welcomed as it offered the animal the opportunity to roam freely in a space close to nature, rather than being kept in a cramped cage.
Sustainability is built into every layer of the project. Rainwater harvesting pond in Thrissur Zoological Park. There are six rainwater catchment ponds in the park. | Photo credit: NAJEEB KK
“The park is not a place to confine animals, but to give them a dignified, natural life and help people understand their place in the ecosystem,” Revenue Minister K. Rajan explains the very idea behind the park.
On October 28, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the park, marking the beginning of a significant phase in Kerala’s wildlife management, conservation and education programmes.
For almost three decades, the idea of a bigger zoo in Thrissur had been doing the rounds. The old zoo, which covers 13.5 hectares in the city center and was established more than a century ago, was overcrowded and outdated, with more than 450 animals confined in enclosures.
Panoramic view of Thrissur Zoological Park, Puthur. | Photo credit: NAJEEB KK
The turning point came in 2012 when Australian zoo architect Jon Coe, who has played a key role in setting up more than 85 zoo projects around the world, visited the Puthur site.
“Jon found the terrain and ecosystem ideal for a next-generation zoo,” recalls M. Peethambaran, secretary of Friends of Zoo, which campaigned for the project. “Our dream was to give animals space to live, not just to survive.”
The idea of the park gained momentum when the state government included it in the list of projects to be funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board.
Chimbu, a wild gaur in the park. There are two more gaurs in the park. | Photo credit: NAJEEB KK
“A dream that started 30 years ago is finally taking shape,” says Rajan, who represents Ollur Assembly constituency of Thrissur in the State Assembly. “This is not just another zoo – it is a statement about how Kerala treats its wildlife. We have invested over ₹370 crore to make it a world-class conservation area,” he says.
The Sanctuary Reimagined
Designed by Jon, the park redefines the concept of a zoo. It is not a spectacle of isolation, but a haven of coexistence. Built like a zoo without bars, the park mirrors wildlife habitats across India and beyond, giving both animals and visitors an experience closer to the wild than an urban enclosure, park managers say.
“My main responsibility was to see that the facility came to life as Jon envisioned it,” says KJ Varghese, the park’s special officer.
The park is divided into nine zones and has a designated protected area, each reflecting a different ecological area. From the dry, sun-baked Zululand to the misty Shola Grassland Zone, each space tells a story of adaptation and coexistence.
Entrance to Thrissur Zoological Park. | Photo credit: NAJEEB KK
“Each zone is a miniature version of its parent ecosystem. We recreated the landscape, the soil structure, the microclimate and even the vegetation,” says Varghese.
Nine worlds, one wilderness
In the Kanha zone, for example, visitors will watch India’s big cats – tiger, leopard and Asiatic lion – roam through stretches of sal and teak forests. Elevated decks and observation tunnels allow people to observe animals in motion in a natural landscape.
“The aim is to allow people to see wildlife in action – to climb, to chase, to play,” says BN Nagaraj, director of the park. “It’s not just about the display. It’s about animal behavior, ecology and emotion,” he says.
A piece of Africa
Go a little further and the terrain changes dramatically. Red soil replaces green, the air is drier and the architecture shifts to thatched, conical huts – welcome to the Zululand zone.
In this zone, everything from the terrain to the buildings follows the spirit of the African savannah. Giraffes, zebras, eland, ostriches and hippos can be seen. Visitors can walk along wooden walkways above the hippo swamps, where clay banks mimic the eroded edges of African rivers. For a moment, Thrissur feels like a world away.
Whispers of Sholas
Deer roam freely in the park. | Photo credit: NAJEEB KK
In the Shola Grassland Zone, the air cools and the landscape turns emerald. Nilgiri tahrs, raptors and grassland birds glide through the open space, surrounded by native plants that replicate the Western Ghats ecosystem.
“The shola forests are fragile, unique and stunning. We have recreated the microclimate – the mist, the moss and the meadow – so that even the birds feel at home,” says Varghese.
The nearby Bear Zone shelters sloth bears and Himalayan black bears in shady forests, while the Grassland Zone hosts wild dogs – dholes, jackals and hyenas – on large, open plains that encourage natural pack behaviour.
The park features holographic tunnels where visitors can watch 3D projections of extinct or rare animals. Visitors walk through immersive environments where they can see holographic animals, such as in tunnels where they appear to fly around, or in fenced enclosures where they appear to be alive.
These experiences allow guests to feel like they are visiting different places and time periods. Hologram tunnels allow visitors to walk through spaces where animals fly around them and on the roofs of the sky animals walk overhead. Another attraction is the Petting Zone, which allows children to safely interact with small and young animals and promotes empathy and awareness.
“Our goal is to make learning irresistible,” say the curators. “When a child can see, touch and understand an animal, they grow up wanting to protect it.”
A night house is being prepared to showcase owls and reptiles under soft light, while interpretive trails explain animal behaviour, forest ecology and conservation challenges.
Protection comes to life
In addition to visitor trails, the park has a conservation and research complex equipped for the breeding of endangered species, veterinary care and rehabilitation of wild animals. The zoo also plans to work with universities and conservation agencies to study animal behavior and ecosystem management.
Sustainability is built into every layer of the project. “We have planted thousands of trees – bamboo, palms and forest species in addition to countless garden plants to build a self-sustaining ecosystem,” adds Varghese.
The park’s water needs are met from two rainwater ponds, two abandoned quarries that hold 645 million liters of water, and the Manali River. Solar panels power the administrative units, and reedbeds clean wastewater, and natural drainage channels collect rainwater throughout the campus.
Electric buses transport visitors along the 6.5 km long circular visitor path. Canteens, toilets and rest areas were built. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation will launch a double-decker bus that will offer a tour connecting the city to the park.
Visitors will not just walk through the park – they will travel through biomes. Crowded signs and cages are replaced by interpretive centers, interactive exhibits and shady sidewalks. From rustling bamboo to bird calls echoing across the lake, every sense is engaged.
The staff are busy working to complete the project. Landscape teams are planting seedlings. Engineers test electric buses. The curators are fine-tuning the enclosures for their first residents.
“My responsibility was to make sure the project stayed true to Jon’s vision,” says Varghese. “Animal enrichment is not a one-time job. It has to evolve – the animals have to stay curious and active.”
The government hopes the park will have 20 to 25 million annual visitors by the fifth year. Currently, only a third of the project area is built as a zoological park.
“The park will grow and evolve with time. This also proves that development and compassion can coexist,” says Rajan.
Although the opening is scheduled for October 28, entry to the park will be restricted for several months. Animals relocated to the park should adapt to the new environment, the park administration says.
The park combines education, research and tourism to build awareness of wildlife and nature among visitors, according to park managers.
Life will be a relaxed affair for Rudra as he can spend his days untroubled and well fed, which suits the predator.
