State Forest Minister Dinesh Aggarwal laid foundation stone for a leopard rescue centre which will be constructed at the Malsi Deer Park. The centre is a part of the Central Zoo Authority/Compensatory Afforestation Management Planning Authority (CAMPA) funded expansion of the deer park from a mini zoo to a medium category zoo.
Speaking on the occasion, Aggarwal disclosed that the Central Government had released about Rs 6 crore under CAMPA to develop the deer park into a medium category zoo with an increased number and species of wild animals, birds and reptiles among others. This would also give a boost to tourism in the region.
While facilitating environmental conservation, the State Government is also working to develop ecotourism to improve the economic condition of the locals. The construction of rescue centers for leopards and raptors here will be a historical development that will help in the treatment and rehabilitation of injured and rescued leopards and raptors, said the minister.
The zoo will be developed as a separate unit with appointment of a full time zoo curator while a range officer and other staff for this zoo have already been appointed. Stressing on the importance of public participation in efforts aimed at environmental conservation, Aggarwal mentioned that the State Government had introduced the ‘Humara Payd Humara Dhan’ scheme, under which every family can plant 100 trees of timber, fruit or fodder species on its barren lands or the boundaries of farms and receive money for maintaining the plantations after five years at the rate of Rs 300 per tree following a departmental inspection, he added.
Mussoorie MlA Ganesh Joshi said that the development of Malsi zoo would boost tourism in the area and facilitate means of income for locals and small traders. Considering the tourism potential of Burans Khanda, the MlA demanded development of a park there and provision of various facilities for visitors.
Principal chief conservator of forests, SS Sharma said that it is expected that about two lakh people would visit Malsi after its development into a medium category zoo. Apart from the construction of a rescue centre in the southern part of the park, full time veterinarian and other staff will also be appointed here. It should be noted that apart from the existing leopards and deer, after being developed into a medium category zoo Malsi is slated to house a tiger, sloth bear, Himalayan black bear, hyaena, crocodile, turtles, reptiles, a butterfly park and an orchidarium among other features.