Jambu Zoo’s 1st phase likely to be thrown open in April

As the construction work of Jambu Zoo is near completion, the authorities are mulling throwing open the first phase to the public of the ambitious project by the first week of April. Touted to be the biggest in north India, the zoo, located at Khanpur Nagrota in the city, the work on prestigious Project got affected to some extent in the backdrop of Covid induced lockdowns but the forest department has stepped up its efforts.

The foundation stone of the project covering an area of 229.50 hectares was laid in September 2016 in a bid to make it a major attraction for animal lovers and tourists.

Jambo zoo, named after the founder of the city King Jambu Lochan, will have an artificial waterfall and will house 27 famous species of animals, including the Royal Bengal Tiger, the Asiatic Lion, leopards, bears, crocodiles, ghadiyals and sambar deer, the officials said. As per official sources, the Wildlife Protection department which is executing the Jambu Zoo Project at Khanpur, Nagrota will be procuring the centre of attraction tigers from Odisha’s Nandankanan Zoological Park and crocodiles from Lucknow Zoo. Besides Black Bucks from Delhi Zoo shall also be procured for which the permission from Central Zoo Authority has been received. With regard to sourcing of other animals including Lion, Sloth Bear, Crocodile, Gharial the department has taken up the matter with the respective organizations in Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

The biggest attraction of Jambu Zoo will be Zoo Safari on the lines of Jungle Safari. The project, on completion, will enable Jambu zoo to host several native and exotic animals in its 17 enclosures apart from having various public amenities. In the first phase, a pair of lions is being brought from Gujarat Zoo. Similarly, a pair of tigers will be brought from Nandankanan Zoological Park Odisha and ten alligators from Lucknow Zoo.

About 50% of animals in the vital protect will be shifted from the Manda Zoo. The current phase of the project is being established at a total estimated cost of the project is Rs.62.41 crore. “After J&K became the Union Territory, all Central Laws were implemented here and the Zoo was also approved under the languishing project and approved by the Central Zoo Authority,” the official said.

Various works worth over Rs.30 crore are under progress and tendering of works worth Rs.6 crore is in process. It is being constructed on about 3200 kanals of land. Besides, several major components such as boundary fencing, leopard enclosure, tiger enclosure, porcupine enclosure, staff quarters, animal feed store, animal kitchen, slope stabilization works, view points, reservoirs, cafeteria are in advanced stage of completion. Also works on other animal enclosures is at different stages of construction and tendering.

As per a senior official the Jambu Zoo will also be having a visitors’ facilities like cafeteria, visitors park and other recreational areas at vantage points.

“A new concept of ‘invertebrate conservation center’ depicting invertebrates such as insects and beetles; research centre-nature interpretation centre for organising seminars, conventions and debates; artificial water fall, artificial lake and provision of Safari are also part of the project,” a source said.

It will also have reptile chambers hosting the poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. The zoo will also have an open amusement theatre and a park for children. The zoo will have battery-operated cars and bicycles for the visitors to move around. The facility would be a major attraction for tourists coming to the city.

The main objective is to promote international eco-tourism, research and education on wildlife conservation, animal rehabilitation and mitigation of man-animal conflicts. The area of the zoo for safari has also been increased from 163.5 hectares to 229.5 hectares. Eco-tourism will get a boost due to its proximity to Jammu city. This will create employment opportunities for the local people.

As per Zoo official 80 percent work of Jambu Zoo has been completed. Preparations are being made to start the first phase of Zoo from April. This will give a boost to tourism at the local level.