Kolkata, Nov 1 West Bengal Forest Minister Manoj Oraon on Sunday said his department is planning to introduce a Royal Bengal Tiger at the mini zoo in New Town by early next year.
According to the preliminary plan, a Royal Bengal Tiger may be brought from the Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri to the Harinalaya mini zoo in New Town by January 2027, Oraon told PTI.
The tiger will be brought by road, and a team of vets and zoo officials will monitor its health condition, he said.
Oraon said the infrastructure required for keeping a tiger had been completed and the department would now approach the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for the necessary clearance.
“Once the required permission is obtained, a tiger will be brought to the mini zoo in a few months.
Currently, the Alipore Zoological Gardens in the city houses six Royal Bengal Tigers, forest department sources said.
The mini zoo, spread across around 12.5 acres near Gate No 6 of Eco Park, currently houses several animals, including deer, giraffes and chimpanzees.
A special enclosure has been constructed for the tiger, with more than 70 per cent of the area kept open to provide adequate space for movement.
A cave-like structure has also been created to provide the animal with a resting place.
“Visitors will be able to watch the tiger from a designated area.
The Forest Department had earlier planned to bring a tiger to Harinalaya in 2023 and 2024, but the proposals did not materialise.
(PTI News)
