Special package for Slender Loris, new zoo at Sirumalai soon

Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly under Rule 110, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced Rs 10 crore mini zoo and special conservation programme for critically endangered Slender Loris found in the reserve forests of Sirumalai. Under the new announcement, new enclosures for wild animals, quarantine facilities, veterinary hospital and visitoramenities will be created.

Besides Slender Loris, sambhar, Bengal tiger, spotted deer, ostrich, marsh crocodile, Indian rock python, reticulate Malaysian python, wild cat, palm civet, jackal and snakes, including cobra will be housed inthe zoo, the CM said.

To reduce conflicts caused by stray elephants in Theni, Dharmapuri and Dindigul districts, the forest department will construct concrete fence to 60 km at a cost of Rs 21 crore. As part of fire-fighting mechanism in reserve forests, the state will establish forest fire fighting task force at a cost of Rs 23.26 crore, the CM added.