Mysore Zoo
Encyclopedia
Mysore Zoo is a 245 acres (99.1 ha) zoo located near the palace in Mysore, India
. It is one of the oldest and most popular zoo
s in Southern India
, and is home to a wide range of species. Mysore Zoo is one of the city’s most popular attractions. It was established under royal patronage in 1892, making it one of the oldest zoos in the world.
Of late the zoo is thriving on the adoption scheme introduced a few years ago. Most of the celebrities / institutions and animal lovers are contributing liberally for the adoption of the inmates of the zoo, which is depending only on its entry fees for its revenue.
The zoo was opened to the public in 1902, and now includes a bandstand and an artificial lake. It was gifted to the Department of Parks and Gardens of the Mysore State Government in 1948. The zoo was expanded first with another 50 acres (20.2 ha), and then another 150 acres (60.7 ha) with the acquisition of the Karanji Tank (Karanji reservoir), in which an artificial island has been created as a sanctuary for birds.
The zoo was handed over to the Forest Department in 1972, and was entrusted to Zoo Authority of Karnataka (the first autonomous organization in India to manage a zoo) in 1979.
s brought from Colombo Zoo.
) was found mysteriously dead. An emu
and a tiger
were also reported to have died mysteriously. On September 4, 2004, an elephant
died, reportedly of acute haemorrhagic enteritis
and respiratory distress. It was reported that the illness in elephants were due to poisoning. As a safety measure, the zoo authority suspended several staff members who were allegedly responsible for the "gruesome killings". Laboratory tests later confirmed that the two elephants, named Ganesha and Roopa, had been poisoned. This was followed by another elephant death (Komala) on 7 September despite hightened security. Komala had been scheduled to be transferred to Armenia in about a month.
On October 24, 2005, another elephant, Rohan along with his mate Ansul, died with suspicions of poisoning. The elephants were supposed to be sent to Armenia
as a goodwill ambassador. That same day, the Chief Minister of Karnataka ordered a probe into the death of Ansul and Rohan.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is one of the oldest and most popular zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
s in Southern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and is home to a wide range of species. Mysore Zoo is one of the city’s most popular attractions. It was established under royal patronage in 1892, making it one of the oldest zoos in the world.
Of late the zoo is thriving on the adoption scheme introduced a few years ago. Most of the celebrities / institutions and animal lovers are contributing liberally for the adoption of the inmates of the zoo, which is depending only on its entry fees for its revenue.
History
Mysore Zoo was originally created in 1892 on 10 acres (4 ha) of the summer palace of Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar, and was originally called the Palace Zoo. The zoo was originally set up by G.H. Krumbeigal, a German landscaper and horticulturist. Over the next 10 years the zoo was expanded to 45 acres (18.2 ha) with spacious enclosures that are still in use.The zoo was opened to the public in 1902, and now includes a bandstand and an artificial lake. It was gifted to the Department of Parks and Gardens of the Mysore State Government in 1948. The zoo was expanded first with another 50 acres (20.2 ha), and then another 150 acres (60.7 ha) with the acquisition of the Karanji Tank (Karanji reservoir), in which an artificial island has been created as a sanctuary for birds.
The zoo was handed over to the Forest Department in 1972, and was entrusted to Zoo Authority of Karnataka (the first autonomous organization in India to manage a zoo) in 1979.
Animals
The zoo is currently home to 10 elephants, and has more elephants than any other zoo in India. A total of 34 elephants have lived at this zoo, many of which were eventually transferred to other zoos.Zoo has five Green anacondaGreen Anaconda
Eunectes murinus is a non-venomous boa species found in South America. It is the heaviest known snake species...
s brought from Colombo Zoo.
Incidents
The zoo witnessed a series of animal deaths in 2004 and 2005. In August 2004, a lion-tail monkey (macaqueMacaque
The macaques constitute a genus of Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. - Description :Aside from humans , the macaques are the most widespread primate genus, ranging from Japan to Afghanistan and, in the case of the barbary macaque, to North Africa...
) was found mysteriously dead. An emu
Emu
The Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the largest bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius. It is the second-largest extant bird in the world by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich. There are three subspecies of Emus in Australia...
and a tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
were also reported to have died mysteriously. On September 4, 2004, an elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
died, reportedly of acute haemorrhagic enteritis
Enteritis
In medicine, enteritis, from Greek words enteron and suffix -itis , refers to inflammation of the small intestine. It is most commonly caused by the ingestion of substances contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. Symptoms include abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, dehydration and fever...
and respiratory distress. It was reported that the illness in elephants were due to poisoning. As a safety measure, the zoo authority suspended several staff members who were allegedly responsible for the "gruesome killings". Laboratory tests later confirmed that the two elephants, named Ganesha and Roopa, had been poisoned. This was followed by another elephant death (Komala) on 7 September despite hightened security. Komala had been scheduled to be transferred to Armenia in about a month.
On October 24, 2005, another elephant, Rohan along with his mate Ansul, died with suspicions of poisoning. The elephants were supposed to be sent to Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
as a goodwill ambassador. That same day, the Chief Minister of Karnataka ordered a probe into the death of Ansul and Rohan.