Re-modelling of a model

By Hiranthi Fernando

The Dehiwela Zoo's daily elephant circus, one of its major attractions over several decades will shortly be limited to weekends only. The move has been planned with the jumbos' welfare in mind, say officials. The elephants will also be shifted to an enclosure where they can be free and not chained by both hind legs, with the public being accommodated in a viewing gallery.

Winds of change are blowing through the Dehiwela Zoo, as it gets a major facelift with certain areas being identified for an open zoo concept. The innovations are being done in consultation with Lyn de Alwis, a former Director of the Zoo and architect Ashley de Vos. Instead of cages, the public will have the feeling of openness with invisible barriers taking the place of bars. The entrance to the Zoo will also be modernized.

These school holidays a baby chimp named Tony riding around on a tricycle, young rabbits, birds and monkeys have been the chief attractions at the newly renovated children's park.

Two zebras from Belgium and three ostriches from China are among the new animals at the Zoo. Several more exhibits including hippos, a python, parrots from Indonesia, camels from Russia, gibbons from Singapore, and black and white rhinos are expected shortly. Discussions are also underway to obtain two orangutans. Most of these animals are obtained in exchange for fishing cats, nilgai, sloth bears, giant squirrels, spoonbills and cormorants which the Zoo has in abundance.

"Our first priority in the programme to upgrade the Zoo is to improve the general appearance and cleanliness," says Zoo Director Brig. H.A.N.T. Perera. "As they enter the premises, people should feel they are in a healthy, pleasant environment. It should look like a Zoological Garden."

The renovation and upgrading of the children's park and pets corner was one of the first to be completed. The walk-in aviary which has about 20 species of endemic birds has also been completed and was opened to visitors this month.

The Zoo's old cages need renovation too, Brig. Perera said adding that work has been started, focussing on one cage at a time. The problem of corrosion arises because tigers and lions demarcate their territory by urinating on the bars. Therefore a permanent fibre coating is being applied to these bars to prevent corrosion.

Much emphasis is also being placed on adequate areas for relaxation and better facilities for the public. The restaurant and other canteens will also be improved to provide better service to visitors with prices being brought down, the Director said.

The library and education centre are other areas earmarked for upgrading. The library is being moved to a new location in the education centre, and will function as a reference library. The Zoo has spent much money buying books on zoology, which could be used of for reference.

The animal hospital is in a bad state and below desired standards, lacking proper accommodation and facilities . "We have six qualified and experienced veterinary surgeons, four at the zoo and two at Pinnawela, but the laboratory is not up to standard," Brig. Perera said. The hospital has become a dumping yard with animals netted from Wildlife Department raids being brought there. In the future, animals that are not of exhibit value and those sent by the Wildlife Department, pending court cases will be accommodated at a transit and quarantine centre being set up at the Gonawala Farm.

The Gonawala Farm, in Horana, is also due for upgrading with a view to providing much of the food requirements of the Zoo, such as fruits, vegetables and large quantities of leaves.

Nadun, one of the Zoo's Assistant Curators spoke of one of the major headaches of officials - discarded polythene. He said people throw bags with remnants of food into the animal enclosures and many animals have died after eating them. Boards have now been put up warning the public against this.

Like the rest of the country, the Zoo has been hit by a severe water crisis. A water recycling plant as well as some tube wells have been planned to combat this problem. The daily water requirement of the Zoo is around 90,000 to 110,000 gallons, costing about Rs. 70 lakhs.

"If we can purify and recycle waste water we can save a lot by using the recycled water for washing cages, watering plants etc.," Brig. Perera said. "The cleaning of the premises needs much attention. If we miss even one cleaning session, the zoo would stink." But with the current renovations, visitors can rest assured that that will not be very likely.

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