Remodeled Tata Zoo opens in Jamshedpur

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Animals kill for food and self-defence, humans for fun: Narendran

Jamshedpur, Jan 7: Animals kill only for food and self-defence while humans kill for fun. This was observed by Tata Steel MD and CEO TV Narendran during the inauguration of the ‘remodeled’ park at new entrance of Tata zoo at Marine Drive here on Saturday.

Tata Steel dedicated the remodeled Tata Steel Zoological Park to the residents of Steel City on Saturday, reiterating the Company’s commitment towards preserving biodiversity.

Narendran said 70 million sharks are killed every year by humans. He went on to observe that one should appreciate animals and biodiversity. He said Jamshedpur is a vibrant place.

Also present on the occasion, Chanakya Choudhary, Tata Steel Vice President (Corporate Services), said the Tata Zoo had bagged first place in Jharkhand and ninth in the country under medium category of zoos in a national survey.

“The zoo is spread over 60 acres of land. It has been expanded with the view to make the zoo safer for animals and improve the environment and attract more and more visitors,” said Choudhary.

The VP said many dignitaries were adopting zoo animals which was a praiseworthy step. Visitors have been provided parking facility and many more changes have been introduced in the zoo, he said, adding further that the new entrance would be opened for the public from 26th January onwards.

Choudhary said four lakh footfalls are recorded at the zoo every year. “We plan to enhance our association with schools and the facilities at the zoo. The zoo hospital is being upgraded for best care of animals,” he said.

Opening of the entrance plaza facilitates separate passages for visiting public to come into the Zoo and safe exit with facility for parking their four and two-wheelers. It would additionally have souvenir e-cart with charging stations, shop, change/rest rooms for staff, AV room, e-ticketing facility, CCTV surveillance etc. A beautiful fountain park and herbivore exhibit has also been set up. These facilities are now ready for opening to the visiting public.

Noted social activist and Narendran’s wife Ruchi Narendran and Raghunath Pandey, President, Tata Steel Zoological Society (TSZS) Union were also present during the inauguration. Pandey demanded concession in entry fee for school kids.

Also present were Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President Corporate Services Tata Steel and senior leadership of Tata Steel, Tata Steel Utilities and Infrastructure Services Limited and members of Tata Steel Zoological Park, among others.

Tata Steel Limited conceptualized the creation of a Zoo in 1992 in Jamshedpur as an endeavour to raise people’s awareness on the need to conserve forests and wildlife in the Singhbhum landscape.

TSZP is a recognized ‘Medium’ category Zoo by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA). The CZA evaluates Zoos on periodic basis and stipulates conditions for their improvement. TSZP has been evaluated by CZA at periodic intervals and major recommendations to meet the prescribed standards are creation of a veterinary hospital with postmortem room and incinerator, shifting of animal enclosures, separate entry and exit gates for visiting public, strengthening perimeter wall etc.

Tata Steel Zoological Society engaged Tata Steel Utilities and Infrastructure Services Limited (TSUISL) to help in redrawing the master layout plan of the park. Taxonomic display of animals in thematic zones was chosen as the broad principle for the new plan. Accordingly, the layout plan was prepared with following themes:

1) The Reptile Zone- to exhibit Gharial, Mugger, non-poisonous snakes, tortoises & turtles
2) The Bear & Primate Zone- To exhibit sloth bear; Gray Langur; Bonnet Macaque; Rhesus Macaque and mandrills
3) The Birds & Butterfly Zone: To exhibit different species of flying and ground birds including an aquatic bird aviary and butterfly house
4) The Carnivore Zone- To exhibit big cats like Lion, Tiger & leopard and Hyena
5) The Herbivore Zone- To exhibit Zebra; Hog Deer; composite exhibits for Sambar & Spotted deer; Blackbuck & Nilgai; Barking deer
6) Nature Interpretation Zone- with Amphitheatre for citizen science activities; library & museum and nature trails for birders.
7) Hospital campus- To accommodate modern diagnostic equipment’s like X-ray; ultrasound; Pathological & Animal nutrition laboratory; Zoo commissary; surgical room; inpatient wards for birds & primates; carnivores & herbivores; Post mortem room and incinerator. Quarantine area to accommodate newly arriving animals to the Zoo.

CZA had approved the new layout plan of the Zoological Park in July 2020. However, the plan for its implementation got delayed due to Covid, and the work commenced in 2022. The entire project has been phased out and it is likely to be completed by the year 2025.