The forest department is augmenting the water supply to animals at the Malsi deer park in view of the summer heat. Though the pond in this deer park is nearly dry, officials state that the surroundings are expected to change for the better soon as this year the Forest Department is expected to develop this mini-zoo into a State level zoo with approval of the Central Zoo Authority already being granted for this in the past.
Since the ducks were rehabilitated away from the deer park in accordance with CZA regulations, the pond here has not been maintained as well as it was when the ducks were here. Rescued birds like an eagle, tawny fish owls, brown wood owls, barn owls, two leopards, spotted deer and other types of deer keep the visitors occupied though the authorities have failed to prevent littering inside the park. According to the Dehradun divisional forest officer Sushant Patnaik, in view of the summer heat the department is augmenting the water provided to the birds and animals here. Work on developing Malsi into a bigger zoo is expected to begin this year, he added.
The developed zoo will also include a leopard rescue centre and a raptor rescue centre. It is worth mentioning here that the Malsi deer park was established in 1976 on the Dehradun-Mussoorie Road. Situated amidst lush forests in the foothills below Mussoorie, the deer park is used to shelter various wild animals including those rescued by the department from different areas. However, the department staff here is unable to prevent the visitors from littering and making noises that disturb the sheltered birds and animals. The local animal rights activists and concerned citizens hope that once developed, such anomalies will not be allowed here.