Unable to bear the financial burden, the Berhampur University has decided to hand over the management of its deer park to the Forest Department.
The university on Saturday wrote a letter to the Forest Department to take over the park located in the campus. The three-acre lush-green area has 60 deers. The university annually spends about Rs 7 lakh on food, medicine and maintenance of the animals. The park was set up as far back as in 1989 with only a pair of deer. At least three animals were found dead after the cyclone Phailin in October.
A university official said the university now has to bear an extra financial burden for maintenance of the park. The university would extend all cooperation to the Forest Department and provide some extra land for development of the park. The university authorities hope that the Government would consider their proposal.
Brahmapur Divisional Forest Officer SS Mishra has reportedly said the Government would take a decision after receiving the university’s request. In 2008, the university had decided to shift the animals elsewhere when the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) withdrew its mini zoo status from the park. The Ganjam district administration.
However, intervened and decided to develop the park as a tourist place of attraction at a cost of Rs 33 lakh. The district administration had also persuaded the CZA to renew the mini zoo status. last year, however, the CZA finally withdrew the status as the university failed to follow certain guidelines. And the district administration's plan to make the zoo a tourist destination was not implemented.