Vandalur zoo saw 30,000 visitors on New Year day

The number of visitors this year is much higher in comparison to previous years. While only 10,600 people visited the zoo on the first day of 2017, 2018 had 15,876 visitors. On January 1, 2019, the zoo had 16,300 visitors.

“The lake has been dry for many years and we have been missing the avian visitors due to it. We worked hard to revive and rejuvenate the lake. Now, the has been finally restored. The lake was deepened by 15 feet. This is the first time we had water in the lake after 2015 floods. With the rain replenishing the lake, many birds are seen in the area. It is doing good for the footfall at the zoo,” said Sudha Ramen, deputy director of Vandalur zoo.

Apart from the lake restoration, many animals such as squirrel monkey, tiger and lion cubs, rhinoceros, and swans were brought to the zoo recently. New gardens were also set up on the bank of the lake.

“We have received a good response from the public. Thus we renovated butterfly park, too, to attract children,” Sudha added.

The official added that the surplus water from the lake flowed to different lakes earlier and it was used for agricultural purposes. Many fields were also affected when the lake went dry.