After the Union government included the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in the model zoo category,the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to prepare a 30-minute documentary on the zoo to showcase its activities,including the animal adoption scheme and wildlife conservation,at various national and international forums. The park run by the PMC was included,two yeas ago,in the category of model zoo of the country. Thus,there are many who are curious about the different work undertaken by the PMC for its zoo,and the best way to do that is to make a documentary, said Ashok Ghorpade,chief garden superintendent. He added that delegates of several civic bodies visited the zoo to figure out the work done in wildlife conservation. There are several seminars and conferences that take place at the national and international levels. The documentary can be easily used to showcase our work, Ghorpade said. The civic body has also undertaken various development works in the premises,he said,adding a state-of-the-art auditorium and study centre would soon be initiated to create awareness on wildlife conservation. The documentary will also be used to showcase how animals are taken care of by civic staff in different seasons, he added. The zoological park is set up across 130 acres of land,including a lake spread across 29 acres. There are 379 animals of different species of mammals,birds and reptiles. The central zoo authority has approved a master plan for the zoo that is aimed at upgrading facilities and improving infrastructure,proposing acquisition of selected species, said Rajkumar Jadhav,deputy garden superintendent and incharge of zoo. He added that the documentary would feature different activities of the zoo and its achievements. In comparison to other cities,our animal adoption scheme has been a success. Thus,it will mentioned in detail in the documentary. Another five-minute film will also be prepared on the dos and donts of a zoo, Jadhav said.
