**Shifting of Nehru Zoo: Forest Team Visits Vantara in Jamnagar**
A team from the State Forest Department and Telangana State Forest Development Corporation is visiting the Vantara animal shelter in Jamnagar, Gujarat, to assess various aspects and prepare a report for the State government. This visit follows Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s directive to establish a new zoo park on the outskirts of the city, ideally in the fourth city. In response, forest officials have identified several revenue lands near Kurumidda, Kadthal, Tadiparthy, and other forest blocks in the Rangareddy district.
The proposal aims to establish a new zoo park with safari rides and various facilities spread across 200 acres. The park would offer amenities such as night camping and night safaris for visitors. To evaluate these features, a team of senior officials is concluding a two-day visit to Gujarat today, according to a senior official from the Forest Department.
The visit to the Vantara animal shelter, founded by Anant Ambani, is intended to study its operational and maintenance practices, as well as the facilities provided for animal care. Based on their findings, officials plan to submit a report to the State government within two weeks, detailing project costs, land requirements, and other considerations.
Three weeks prior, the Chief Minister instructed forest officials to explore all aspects of establishing a new zoo park on the city outskirts. However, this decision has faced criticism from various groups, with some questioning the necessity of a new zoo when the well-established Nehru Zoological Park already exists. M. Padmanabha Reddy, president of the Forum for Good Governance, has urged the State government to prioritize spending on health and education rather than a new zoo park.
