By Mohsin Khaiyam

Guwahati, Oct 31: AssamState Zoo cum Botanical Garden, popularly known as the Guwahati Zoo, will reopen from December 1 after remaining shut since March, this year, because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The authorities have decided to reopen the zoo following the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs since the covid situation has now somewhat been under control in Assam.

Zoo was quarantined during pandemic

Tejas Mariswamy, the DFO of Guwahati Zoo, said that most of the employees as well as the animals were kept safe from the pandemic since the zoo was entirely quarantined.

“To make sure that we do not run out of resources, grocery shops were set inside the zoo. It was made sure that no persons from inside the zoo would go out if it was absolutely not necessary. Several further initiatives were taken by the government to ensure that the animals do not face any problem due to the pandemic,” Mariswamy said.

The DFO further stated that all along there was proper supply of animal food to ensure that there is no lack of food.

Visitors to abide by following guidelines

Though the zoo is scheduled to reopen on December 1, there will be a limit to the number of visitors.

Only 900 people will be allowed to enter the zoo and they will be divided into visitors’ groups of 450 people each. The two groups will be allotted different times for visiting the zoo.

The entry of people above the age of 65 has been barred for the time-being and everyone visitor will have to sanitize themselves.

It has further been advised that people having even mild symptoms of being affected by the coronavirus should not visit the zoo for the safety of the staff, other visitors as well as the animals.

Hiking trail

Various other initiatives have been taken by the zoo authorities. Among these, the restarting of a seven kilometer-long hiking trail behind the zoo is the most noteworthy.

Visitors keen on availing the hiking trail will have to send an email in advance to the zoo authorities, following which they will be given a time slot early in the morning. Only after completing these procedures will they taken out on the hiking trail. 

Only a limited number of participants will be allowed at a time on the trail and they will be accompanied by guards and foresters in order to provide them security from wild animals like leopards.