Confidence to build the ‘world’s largest zoo’ in Gujarat

(This story was first published in the Times of India on December 20, 2020)

Ahmedabad: Dependency industries Ltd will build what it claims to be the largest in the world zoo in Gujarat’s Jamnagar, a senior company executive confirmed on Saturday. The zoo will house about 100 different species of animals, birds and reptiles from India and around the world.

A favorite project of Anant Ambani, President of RIL Mukesh AmbaniThe youngest son, the zoo will be built on approximately 280 acres of land near the company’s refinery project at Moti Khavdi, near Jamnagar, the world’s largest oil refining complex where a petrochemical project also operates.

The zoo is expected to open to the public in the next two years if the project, which was delayed due to Covid-19, faces no further postponements, the executive said.

“It will be called ‘Green Zoo, Rescue and Rehabilitation Kingdom.’ All necessary approvals have already been obtained from the concerned central and state government authorities, ”said Parimal Nathwani. RIL Director (Corporate affairs).

The zoo will have sections like ‘Indian forest‘,’ House of the frogs ‘,’ Insect Life ‘,’ Dragon’s Land ‘,’Exotic island‘,’ Wild Trail of Gujarat ‘and’ Aquatic Kingdom ‘among others, as per the shared plan design on the Central Zoo Authority website.

Various species, including barking deer, thin lorises, sloth bears, fishing cats, Komodo dragons, Indian wolves and pink pelicans are proposed as attractions at the zoo, which will also house six crowned cranes, jaguars and African lions, in addition to 12. ostriches, 20 giraffes, 18 meerkats, 10 spectacled alligators, seven cheetahs, African elephants, and nine Indian bustards. The frog house will have around 200 amphibians, while the aquatic kingdom will house around 350 fish.

“We are aware of RIL’s interest and passion for wildlife and its conservation. Although I am not fully aware of the details of the project, I am sure it will be a good example for private participation in wildlife conservation, ”said Soumitra Dasgupta, additional director general for forests (wildlife) at the Ministry of Environment. Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The concept of private zoos is not new to India, Dasgupta said, adding that one of the oldest zoos in the country, the Zoological Garden, Calcutta – it is private.

RIL has also established a rescue center in Jamnagar, where the state forest department has recently moved some leopards from the wild. “The center is a CSR initiative aimed at helping the forest department protect big cats, such as leopards, that have been injured or come into conflict with humans. It is separate from the zoo project and will not be open to the public, ”Nathwani said, adding that the center will provide state-of-the-art medical facilities for resident animals.