Wild Life Rescue and Rehabilitation Center:
I am a resident of Chennai from my birth and visited
Vandaloor Zoo many a times. But, didn’t know that it not only contains
different animals, it also contains a Veterinary hospital along with a Rescue center
for lions and tigers. The zoo is the
second largest zoo in Tamilnadu after Mudumalai National Park.
In 2011, I got an opportunity to visit it along with my
family and friends. I was really stunned to see the animals in the rescue
center. It is not open for visitors since the Government wants to maintain it
as a solitude place for the animals.
In 2001, with the banning of training and exhibiting 5
varieties of animals like lions, tigers, panthers, bears and monkeys, the
Vandaloor Zoo along with CZA had set up
an 228.4 acres of land to provide rescue and rehabilitation center for
estranged animals. (Government banned year 1998) The place is situated next to
the Zoo. The center provides care for
the estranged wild animals like tigers and lions saved from different circus companies where they
had been forced to work for money.
Now, the rescue center is the home for at least 32 lions and
7 tigers. It can approximately provide homes for 40 lions and 20 tigers (came to know from the staff there). Vandaloor
Zoo is one of the five zoos in the country recognized and funded by the CZA for
the estranged circus animals to rehabilitate.
We got special permission and went into it around 3 p.m. It
was the lunch time for the animals. As soon as they heard the food vehicles,
the animals started making huge noises from their dens. We were also able to
see one or two animals having their afternoon stroll outside their rooms behind
safety fence. It was really a beautiful sight to see the caged lions and tigers
enjoying their freedom in the rehabilitation center.
The zoo workers opened the gates and threw their foods
(meat) and they ate to their full. It was really an unexpected experience.
Then, we went to the office to enquire about the Medical Center.
The zoo medical centre takes the responsibility of preventing
diseases and general health of the animals inside the Zoo. One of the officials
told us that no one is allowed there since the previous day only a tiger had
given birth to a cub there and it should not be contracted with any infection.
He also told us that as soon as the media was informed about the new arrival, they
had flocked in large numbers and took photos which had affected the cub very
badly. So, we didn’t get the chance to visit the place. He also told us that
the medical care has an exclusive operation theatre along with in-patient ward,
modern diagnostic laboratory, clinical and pathological room, quarantine
facilities, radiology department fully working to cater the needs of the
animals in the zoo.
Even after so many years of visiting it, the day of visit is
still green in my thoughts and whenever I feel like seeing it, I would see the
photos taken there. It was really a memorable trip and the most loving place to ponder upon.
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