Master Planning of Zoos - Central Zoo Authority

Photo: Brij Kishore Gupta
Inaugural Address
by Sri Naveen Patnaik
Hon'ble Chief Minister, Orissa
I have great pleasure in inaugurating this All
India Zoo Directors’ Training Programme and in
having to say a few words on this occasion.
A zoo is not merely a collection of wild animals
for display. Although the initial purpose of zoos
was entertainment, over the years, the concept of
zoos has undergone drastic metamorphosis.
A zoo is a theatre of complex interaction among
animals, visitors and staff. They have their special
needs, and now to reconcile them in the design of
the zoo is a challenge for the management and the
experts.
In the arena of wildlife conservation, zoos are
assuming ever more significant role. The zoos
provide environmental education, eco-system
awareness, and nature interpretation. They
facilitate research on wild animals and help in
maintaining the gene pool of species on the brink
of extinction. A zoo promotes conservation as
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much as it provides recreation. All these roles have
to be adequately factored into the planning for any
zoo.
As they say, in the design of zoos, four essential
principles have to be adhered to. The first is
attractiveness, since attractive landscapes set the
stage for aesthetic experience. The aesthetic
experience is the basis for a satisfying zoo visit.
The second principle is that natural landscapes
should be the bench-marks of zoo design, since
an animal enclosure should be as close to its natural
habitat as possible. The third principle is
effectiveness, meaning thereby that the design
should follow the natural processes so as to be
cost-effective in the long run. The fourth principle
is flexibility, since a flexible design can answer
all the evolving requirements of ex-situconservation.
The first zoo set up in India is the Marble Palace
Zoo at Kolkata. That was 152 years ago. The