Chittagong Zoo, Bangladesh

 Chittagong Zoo 

Hundreds of visitors are crowding the Chittagong zoo during the general public holidays after it recently underwent a makeover.

On a neighborhood of six acres of land, the lone private zoo at the port city is found at hilly land of Foy’s lake at South-Khulshi.

Last Friday and Saturday, crowds were seen ahead of peacock cage as green and blue peacocks enthralled people of all ages. Some people were taking selfies and videos while others were watching the activities of the peacocks.

Near the tiger’s cage, some visitors were trying to awaken the sleeping tiger.

Masuk Raihan, a businessman from Senbag Noakhali, told New Age ‘We have come to go to Chittagong city. the youngsters wanted to go to the zoo.’

‘In the urban environment, the zoo is that the only way through which the youngsters are often introduced to wildlife,’ said Nilu Akter, a house from Chittagong’s Sadarghat area, at the zoo. More animals should be delivered to the zoo, she added.

A shopkeeper from the world told New Age that earlier, visitors wont to visit the zoo by pressing handkerchief on their face thanks to the smell and dirty vicinity. There was always a scarcity of animal food, he added.

‘Dilapidated roads, visitors being attacked by animals and stinky environment of the zoo was a staple. As a result the amount of tourists gradually decreased. Recently, the zoo has brought in additional animals attracting more visitors,’ said zoo officials seeking anonymity.

In 1988, MA Mannan, former Deputy Commissioner of port city, and a few other influential people of the town , took the initiative to determine a personal zoo at Foy’s lake for the aim of recreation, education and research on zoo animals. Later, in February 1989, the zoo was opened to visitors. Initially, 4.90 acres of land was allocated by the govt , which was later increased to six acres.

Zoo officials told New Age at the start , the ticket price was Tk 1 per person. the entire cost of the zoo and infrastructural development was through with this bit as there was no government allocation and allow the zoo.

Initially there have been five different species and therefore the total number of animals was 23. at the present , nearly 320 animals and birds of 67 different species are available within the zoo.

Usually a committee headed by Deputy Commissioner and a further district commissioner because the member secretary of the committee run the zoo. On behalf of the committee, an executive magistrate supervises the activities of the zoo.

In June 2014, the then-DC of Chittagong Mejbah Uddin ordered the then-executive magistrate Mohammad Ruhul Amin to supervise Chittagong zoo.

Chittagong Zoo executive member secretary, who is an assistant commissioner, Ruhul Amin told New Age in January 2015, once I took the charge of member secretary there was nearly Tk 1 lakh 76 thousand within the zoo fund but the expenditure –salary of officers, food cost for animals and other– stood at Tk 9 lakh signifying a fund crisis.

After joining, he modernised office rooms, store rooms to preserve animal food, quarantine room, operation theatre, brought a pair of tigers at a price of Tk 33 lakh, constructed border wall at a price of Tk 30 lakh and installed a staircase.

He also expanded the cages for crocodiles, renovated the most gate at a price of Tk 16 lakh, increased the amount of animals, constructed 32,164 sq feet road inside the zoo at a price of Tk 28 lakh, found out a kids zone, drains, guide wall, bench, toilets and planted trees.

Also, the officers are now drawing salary in government scale. New animals are coming to the zoo by February. The authority collected six zebras at a price of TK 48 lakh. a complete of Tk 60 lakh, generated from ticket sales, was deposited to the bank.

He said ‘we are getting to found out a children’s park at the foot of Capitol Hill . Later, we've an idea to line up an aviary at the highest of Capitol Hill without damaging it.’

In December 2017, nearly 91,000 visitors visited this zoo.

Entry fee per person is currently Tk 30.