THE Himalayan State of Sikkim is trying to revive the country’s highest zoo to turn it into a major tourist attraction.Home to rich flora and fauna, the Himalayan zoological park at heights of over 2000 metres is spread over 205 hectares.

When the Eighth Plan was formulated in 1991, many zoos in the country, including the Sikkim zoo, were asked to provide proper habitation and sanitation facilities.The zoo has improved albeit ‘very slowly’, laments C. Lachunpa, divisional forest officer (DFO, Wildlife), Sikkim, though the Centre even sanctioned Rs. two crore out of an estimated figure of Rs. 4.67 crore in the Eighth Plan period for its renovation.

However, allotment of funds was affected with only Rs. 20 lakh being sanctioned out of a projected Rs. 35 lakh in 1998-99, said Lachunpa, noting that indication for 1999-2000 fiscal was also discouraging.The zoo has also so far not been formally put in the tourists guide in Sikkim as ‘it is in the making’ and the number of visitors too are mostly casual, says Lachunpa. Plans have now been devised to not only transport rare animals like the Red Panda or Leopards from other states and abroad but also build an ‘interpretation centre’ in it to educate people as to the importance of wildlife.

The State Government is also considering approaching National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) or seeking non-relapseable funds to complete the ongoing work at the park, says Mr. Lachunpa."This will definitely enhance the tourist potential of the park", he says. Rich in berry, Maple trees, medicinal plants and other foliages, the Himalayan zoological park is home to several endangered species like the Red Panda, Black Bear, Wolf, Leopards, Plan Chivet, Tree Monkeys and Spotted Deer.

The zoo intends to house all the animals in open-air enclosures as the animals like to remain in open spaces than in cages or under nets, he says, noting that the first step in popularising the zoological park has been to specifically house only Himalayan fauna inside it like the Red Panda.The Red Pandas strength in the zoo had two new members added to it with the birth of two Panda cubs to Preeti and Jugal. This was the first official record of regeneration of a highly endangered species.

The birth of the cubs also forces the zoo authorities to close doors for visitors lest the movement of tourists forces Preeti to abandon her cubs.The Himalayan Zoological Park is also home to Sridevi and Raja, the two Black Bears, which are housed in the largest bear enclosure in the country.