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New Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Entry to Bannerghatta zoos to be costlier by 20 per cent
BENGALURU: The ticket rates at Bannerghatta and Mysuru zoos will soon be hiked by 20%. However, the safari ticket charges will not see any increase. Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre on Thursday agreed to the proposal of the Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) and various zoo managements across the state for the zoo ticket revision. While officials had sought a 50% hike, the minister agreed for 20%. The rates were last revised in 2021. The ticket rates will not be hiked for other zoos in the state for the time being, Khandre said during the 159th governing body meeting with zoo managements. Presently, the entry rate at Bannerghatta and Mysuru zoos is Rs 100 per head. Khandre told the ZAK and officials to prepare a project report to make all zoos self-sustainable, on the lines of Bannerghatta and Mysuru zoos, in the next five years. ZAK officials said a lot of hand holding will needed for this.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
South India's first penguin park at Mysuru's Karanji Lake
1 2 Bengaluru: In a first for South India, Mysuru is all set to have a state-of-the-art penguin park at Karanji Lake. Providing a fresh lease of life to the famed aquarium project at the waterbody, which was stuck in limbo for over a decade, the govt Thursday approved a proposal to convert the half-built facility at the lake into a penguin park under public-private-partnership (PPP) model. At the Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) board meeting, forest minister Eshwar Khandre approved the proposal — a first in south India and the third such facility in the country after Mumbai and Ahmedabad. "Based on experts' opinion and recommendations, we decided to convert the ongoing aquarium project into a penguin park facility. I asked officials to prepare a detailed project report and submit a proposal at the earliest," Khandre said after the board meeting. Senior forest department officials told TOI the project to build a world-class aquarium was in progress since 2010-11. Half of the structure was built by Mysuru City Corporation at a cost of over Rs 4 crore and handed over to ZAK in 2018. Thereafter, ZAK's multiple efforts to revive the project met with no response from the govt owing to Covid-19 pandemic. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru In the meantime, the tourism department came up with Rs 18-crore project to develop Karanji Lake nature park, linking both the zoo and lake. However, the proposal did not go well with ZAK as it violated guidelines set by Central Zoo Authority (CZA). Artificial cooling effects As penguins — flightless aquatic birds — are found only in cold climatic conditions, the facility at Karanji Lake will have special micro-climatic conditions recreated to suit their original habitat. "We have to create artificial cooling effects inside the facility to maintain water and ambience temperature. Currently, only Mumbai and Ahmedabad have penguins under micro-climatic conditions. The facility at Mysuru will have facilities on similar lines but in an advanced stage," said Sunil Panwar, member-secretary, ZAK. Forest department sources said the cost of creating a penguin park may require an investment of Rs 30-40 crore, considering the temperature needs to be below zero degrees and that has to be created mechanically. "This requires round-the-clock power supply to power the freezers and air conditioners which ensure cold climatic conditions," said a retired forest official who previously served at ZAK. The govt is considering getting at least 4 to 5 pairs of penguins initially.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Pay 20% more to enter BBP & Mysuru zoo from Aug
Bengaluru: Come August, visitors will have to pay more to enter Bannerughatta Biological Park (BBP) in Bengaluru and Sri Chamarajendra Zoo in Mysuru. The state govt Thursday approved a 20 per cent entry fee hike but didn't revise the existing rates for jeep and bus safaris at BBP. The new fee structure will come into effect from Aug 1. Reeling under the spiralling cost of feeding animals and birds, along with administrative expenses including salaries of zoo staff, Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) sought a minimum of 50 per cent hike in entry fee. However, forest minister Eshwar Khandre, who chaired the 159th board meeting of ZAK in Bengaluru, refused to approve 50 per cent hike as it would directly affect the public and prospects of zoos as well, and approved 20 per cent hike. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Sources in ZAK told TOI BBP alone requires about Rs 18 crore annually as administrative expenses, including salaries of staff. "In addition to this, another Rs 10 crore annually is needed for providing food and fodder to animals and birds. The overall expenses would come to Rs 28 to 30 crore each year. Similarly, Mysuru zoo requires about Rs 25 to Rs 28 crore annually to meet its daily expenses," a senior official explained. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo BBP last revised its entry fee in 2021, and Mysuru Zoo in 2022, according to officials. Unlike other zoos across India, which are dependent on govt grants, zoos in Karnataka manage on their own. "The primary source of revenue would be gate collection and adoption schemes. Barring a few lakhs, the adoption scheme does not fetch much, leaving us to entirely depend on gate collection. In the last couple of years, the cost of meat and other animal feed has considerably gone up. Despite the rising financial burden, ZAK was able to meet these expenses out of revenue from zoos. But this amount is insufficient now considering the expansion plans that we have at BBP and Mysuru. Hence, the revision of entry fee is imminent," an official from the forest department explained. The forest minister also directed officials to provide more amenities to the visitors and travellers, including potable water, resting areas, and toilet facilities for men and women, along with other recreational facilities.
