The move to Vandalur

by Shobha Menon

In 1972-73, the Government of Tamil Nadu took up the question of shifting the Zoo to a more suitable and congenial place. Lack of space and increasing pollution through the industrial and commercial developments in the vicinity of the Corporation Zoo Complex – Madras Central Station and Madras Harbour on the eastern side, Ennore Thermal Power station and Binny Textiles and various engineering industries on the northern side, were cited as the main reasons. Locations considered included Guindy Park Reserve Forest, Pallikaranai Lake, and Nanmangalam and Vandalur Reserve Forest.

Cine artdesign entrance to Vandalur Zoo.

In the meanwhile, the Ministry of Railways had applied to the Government of Tamil Nadu for transfer of the lands and buildings situated in the Zoo, People’s Park and Moore Market area for expansion of Madras Central Station, specifically for the construction of a Suburban Railway Complex. In the interim, the Zoo was to be shifted to the Children’s Corner, Guindy. By 1978, the Government of Tamil Nadu had already ordered the transfer of 12.03 acres to the Railways, which included also the area occupied by the zoo.

An Expert Committee chaired by Dr. Ruben David, Superintendent, Zoological Park, Ahmadabad, explored suitable locations for the Zoo. The topography of Vandalur with its hills and scrub jungles was considered ideal. In 1979, the Government accorded sanction for the project at a total cost of Rs. 300 lakh. Phase I was to cost Rs. 105 lakh. Staff sanctioned for the implementation of the project in the initial stages, included a Director in the cadre of Conservator of Forest.

According to G.O.Ms. No.408 F&F dated 26.3.1980,

1. About 5 acres of land immediately to the North of the Vandalur–Kelambakkam road to be acquired in order to locate the main entrance and exit gate.

2. Wetland lying to the East of the G.S.T Road and to the North of S. no. 208 to be acquired for the Zoo.

3. All wetlands under the minor irrigation tank (Otteri) lying to the west of GST road to be acquired and reassigned as dry lands, so that the irrigation rights be extinguished to ensure sustained storage in Otteri.

4. Lands lying North of the tank, running close to the foot of the hillock and to the East of GST Road, to be acquired for the Zoo.

By this order, an additional extent of 38.74 acres of Government land (dry and wet) was added to the Zoo bringing the total effective area of the park to 814.74 acres.

Meanwhile, a study made by Chief Engineer (Ground Water) in February 1981 revealed that “only 50% of the total requirement or 7,43,000 liters of water per day could be obtained from 5 bore wells and 1 open well in and around zoo areas”. Sanction was given for diverting the necessary quantity of water to Vandalur Zoological Park from Alandur and Pallavaram Municipal Mains.

To initially accommodate the animals transferred from the Corporation Zoo, fabrication of transit enclosures with compartments was started on a site situated alongside the Vandalur-Kelambakkam Road. Water pumped from the open wells at Peria Eri, Fodder Bank and Otteri was used for raising nurseries, fodder banks and construction works. An area of 5 ha with fodder tree (Subabul) and 9 ha with fodder grass were raised, opposite to the Veterinary Hospital.

To study concepts of zoo design, the then Director, S. Subbarayalu Naidu, along with Deputy Director N. Ramesan visited the UK and other European countries in September 1981. Detailed structural drawings were made by architect Raja Singh of M/s. Kingsway Consultants and the work was executed by the Tamil Nadu Construction Corporation on a turn-key basis. By 1982, the first enclosures were readied by TANSI, and “7 Sambars, 5 Macaw Parrots and 1 African grey parrot were transported from the old Corporation Zoo.” Transport of animals and birds from Corporation Zoo to Vandalur was handled by the Sri Rama Vilas Service (S.R.V.S.), even animals such as Zebra, Hippo and Blackbuck.” All the animals and birds – 155 in number – were gradually shifted from the Corporation Zoo.

By 1983, lessons from the Hyderabad Zoo were being translated into effective practice. Circular roads and footpaths were laid out and tall avenue tree saplings planted. By the next year, most enclosures had been completed. Also, the staff quarters, Veterinary Hospital and stores.

Taking advantage of the natural landscape of the Chinna Kunnumalai, a small hillock centrally situated in the layout and extending over an area of 15 ha (37.35 acres), the ‘Prey-Predator Theme’ was suggested so that enclosures could be viewed by visitors even while walking along the circular road. That of the Lion (Predator) was located on the top portion of the southern part of hillock and in the lower portion is the Prey-enclosure viz., Nilgai, with a common moat. Similarly, the Tiger (Predator) enclosure was located on the top portion of the northern part of the hill slope and in the lower portion is the prey enclosure viz., Sambar.

With the Alandur Municipality diverting the necessary quantity of water by laying ‘a branch line of 3.5 km length from the 32nd km of the Alandur Main’, Palar water to augment existing ground water started flowing into the Vandalur Zoo from July 1984.

On July 24, 1985, the then Chief Minister, M.G. Ramachandran, declared the new Zoo open and named it after his mentor C.N. Annadurai.

In 1986, the entrance of the Zoo was designed by Cine Art Director P. Angamuthu, who simulated a natural mountain with waterfalls and a cave entrance surrounded by the sounds of lions roaring and birds chirping. This was the beginning of the Anna Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP), or Vandalur Zoo as we now know it.

And so, the Madras Zoo that had regaled almost three generations of city dwellers shifted to a sprawling, verdant and much deserved campus in Vandalur. With a further 230 acres land being added to it subsequently, the zoo became one of the largest in South and Southeast Asia!

(To be continued)

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