Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Me with animals of Vandalur zoo (AAZP)











Friday, June 5, 2009

PHOTO SECTION OF ANIMALS


EMU


INDIAN GAUR


STRIPED HYENA


GHARIAL


BONNET MACAQUE


INDIAN/ASIAN ELEPHANT(MALE)


INDIAN/ASIAN ELEPHANT(FEMALE)


SQUIRREL


GARDEN LIZARD

BARKING DEER

SOUTH AMERICAN IGUANA

GREEN WHIP SNAKE


CHAMELEON

Thursday, May 28, 2009

EDUCATION FOR CONSERVATION

EDUCATION FOR CONSERVATION
ARIGNAR ANNA ZOOLOGICAL PARK
(Education services for teachers, students and zoo visitors)

AAZP is not only the largest open, well maintained zoo in India, displaying a wide array of animals in their breeding groups, but also an excellent conservation and education center. The zoo opened in 1985, is the single largest, animal and plant education center offering informative and interesting education to teachers, students and visitors. This is done, not merely, with appealing informative boards, but also through innumerable education programmes offered in the zoo classrooms.
Education: An essential conservation task

The living animals that attract the visitors, from the basis for zoo education. Arignar anna zoological park offers informal zoo education to the diverse zoo public. The education centre of Arignar anna zoological park intends to throw open the facilities to educational institutions and specific target groups for fomal education. Such educational institutions can range from nursery schools to universities. The education unit also runs the students zoo club which currently has a membership of 150 students. Over 8.00,000 people visit this zoo every year , of which nearly 3,00,000 are students. This is why the park run educational programmes for students and teachers, organise talks and slide shows, workshops, field visit and exhibition. Teachers and students get a great experience in the zoo. The education centre is committed to organise more education programme for the benefit of all students to draw new wildlife experiences. You are free to book a topic of your choice and fix the time schedule with the zoo education officer or choose one from the list below. The zoo classrooms are designed to offer excellent exposures to the world of animals. The zoo education offered, is free. With the experiences gained, we intend to provide zoo educational kit for students and teachers shortly. Write to enroll in the zoo classroom sessions and enrich your knowledge on wildlife habitats, management conservation, animals behaviour, adaptation, nutrition, evolution and ecology. Educating the pubilc and creating awareness among zoo visitors is the main objective of our educational plan.

LESSONS FOR PRIMARY STUDENTS:
  1. Animals puppet play.
  2. Animal story telling.
  3. Discovery trails and animal experiences.
LESSONS FOR PRIMARY STUDENTS:
  1. Knowing Indian animals.
  2. Discover endangered animals.
  3. Drawing and painting animals.
LESSONS FOR HIGHER SECONDARY STUDENTS:
  1. Animal behaviour.
  2. Animal kingdom classification.
  3. Animal adaptations.
  4. Indian Ecosystems.
  5. Animal care and hygiene.
  6. Animal watch/out door studies.
LESSONS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS:
  1. Captive breeding in mammals and conservation efforts.
  2. Wildlife in danger.
  3. Animal adaptation.
  4. Feathered friends.
  5. Sexual reproduction in wild.
  6. Animal diet.
  7. In-situ and ex-situ conservation.
  8. Animal communication.
  9. Wildlife photograpy.
These courses and classroom sessions and designed to develop interest in those who desire to pursue a career in wildlife.

TEACHERS RESOURCE PACKAGES:

AAZP has a wide list to study packages for teachers to assist in their teaching of environmental and wildlife topics.
  1. Species and habitat conservation.
  2. Animal classification.
  3. Endangered species.
  4. Indian wildlife and forest types.
  5. Invertebrate wealth of India.
  6. Snakes of south India.
  7. Animal behaviour, reproduction, nutrition and adaptations.
  8. Environmental and wildlife laws.
  9. Animal rescue and rehabilitation.
We can develop more education resources with your support, interaction and co-operation.

ZOO LIBRARY

The park has a library that can made use for reference, which will be open on mondays and fridays.

BOOKING GUIDELINES

The zoo education and lecture are half day or one day programmes, which also include a guided tour inside the zoo. Topic duration may be negotiated to suit your needs. The classes are free of charges . However need a strength of not less than twenty five persons for each programme.

BOOKING INFORMATION:


Booking for education services and classroom sessions can be made by writing to the zoo educational officer.

Please complete the booking forms and post to the below address and these forms are avail in the park office. Entre your date, time and months suitable for your visit. All topic bookings are subject to availability of the lectureres. Please book well in advance.

DIRECTOR,
Or
Education Officer,
Arignar Anna Zoological Park,
Education centre,
Vandalur,
Chennai-600 048.
E-Mail- aazp@hotmail.com

Sunday, May 24, 2009

ARIGNAR ANNA ZOOLOGICAL PARK (AAZP), Vandalur.



Chennai has the distinction of having the first zoo in India in the year 1855. This was later
shifted from Madras(Chennai) city to Vandalur reserve forest and a modern zoological park was established in 1979 by the Tamil Nadu state government forest department and was inaugurated by the then Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, India in 24/07/1985.

This zoo spreads over an area of 602 hectors of dry evergreen forest with gentle undulating terrain, the AAZP is the biggest zoo in India. This zoo is specially designed open, wet, and dry moated island type enclosures simulating natural habitats of the animals are unique to this zoo. This modern zoo is announced has plastic and litter free zone and also it is one of the most scientifically managed zoos of India.

MISSION OF THE ZOO

The mission of ARIGNAR ANNA ZOOLOGICAL PARK(AAZP) is to encourage people to develop a caring attitude towards flora and fauna to serve as a dynamic nature conservation centre by promoting breeding programmes for rare and endangered species of western and eastern ghats and to offer excellent service, re-creation, Eco-awareness and education.

VISION OF THE ZOO
  • Conservation of the fauna and flora of eastern and western ghats.
  • Conservation of breeding of the rare and endangered species of the region.
  • Creating opportunities for education and awareness amongst masses.
  • To carry out research on animal biology and ecology.
  • Strengthen linkage between ex-situ and in-situ conservation.
  • To provide scientific health care to animals through informed veterinary procedures and protocols.
  • To provide facility for rehabilitation of rescued animals.
  • To develop zoo into referral center on wildlife information.
ZOO LANDSCAPING

The animal house, chain link fence, dry and wet moat camouflaged by ameliorative work present a view of natural wildlife setting. The zoo ambience is enhanced by minimizing artificial features and increasing natural vegetation.

ZOO ARCHITECTURE

Exhibition of animals were based on taxonomic and zoo geographical distribution which has now been replaced by ecological niches and habitats. The use of moats has made it possible to have a panorama of wildlife like predators and prey can be housed in one extended enclosure.

RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES COLLECTIONS





The ex-situ centre exhibits 45 sheduled species which are identified as rare and endangered animals.





CO-ORDINATED BREEDING CENTRE

The central zoo authority (CZA) of India. has identified the centre as co-ordinating zoo in co-oridinated breeding programme for Lion Tail Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Indian Gaur, Malabar Giant Squirrel and Wild Dog.

RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

T
he captive centre offers opportunities to the different faculty of students to fulfill their graduation and the zoo hospital encourages the analysis of various parameters of captive population.

AQUARIUM





A
nother attraction is the shark model aquarium where there visitors enter and exit through gills. The aquarium houses 31 species of fresh water fishes in spacious, well lit glass tanks. The aquarium is surrounded by a pond with different varieties of fishes and watching these is a feast to the eyes.






BIO-CENTRE


O
ne of the major attraction is the bio-centre(terrestrial walk through aviary) in a moist deciduous habitat and bamboo thickets and tree cover that houses many species of reptiles, amphibians and birds like red vented bulbul, koels, pheasants, peacocks etc.,

BUTTERFLY HOUSE


The butterfly house constructed at a cost of 60 lakhs is the new invertebrate attraction in the zoo. Over 25 host plants have been carefully selected and planted to attract large array of butterflies. Some of the species commonly seen are blue Mormon, lime butterfly, crimson rose, mottled emigrant, dark blue tiger, evening brown etc.,



RESCUE AND REHABILITATION CENTRE

Rescue and rehabilitation centre was established in an area of 92 hector taken from the research wing of Tamil Nadu forest department in configulity with the fodder bank of AAZP. The purpose of this facility is to house rescued animals.

SNAKE MODEL SERPENTARIUM


Visitor's entry into the serpentarium is through the mouth and exit through the tail. The serpentarium has 24 enclosures well enriched and houses different types of snakes. The King Cobra enclosure is fitted with AC to eat the heat in summer and this particular enclosure in the main attraction to the visitors in the serpentarium.



ZOO SCHOOL

The park has formulated innovative conservation education and awareness programmes for teachers, students and general public(Detailed info discussed below). teacher training , zoo out reach & volunteers programs are important events in the zoo.

ZOO CLUB VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME

T
he zoo encourages the students for enrolment of zoo club volunteers to assist on visitor surveys, animal behaviour, study, animal house maintenance, animal health care assistance, zoo sanitation and zoo store keeping.

ANIMAL KEEPERS TRAINING PROGRAMME

T
his training programme is provided to upgrade the knowledge of keepers on skillful zoo management and vital strategy to provide informed, supportive and participating management and also to overcome shortage of manpower and logistic problems.

ANIMAL HEALTH CARE AND VETERINARY CARE

T
his wing is most vital for disease prevention and promotes health care management of captive population. This health care maintenance concept drastically varies with the conventional veterinary treatment which focuses only on diagnosis and treatment of individual diseases. The zoo veterinary hospital has well equipped operation theatre, in-patient ward, radiology unit, laboratory, convalescent yard fully functional to cater the needs of complete animal health care. The modern diagnostic laboratory has facility for periodic coprological examination, identification of causative organism, antiobiotic, sensitivity, pregnancy diagnosis, hematology, serology and urinalysis.

VISITOR AMENITIES

T
he zoo has all essential basic facilities for the visitors to make their visit an exciting experience. The trees and large crown of foliage protect the visitors from hot sun. Rest sheds, lawns, benches, are provided adequately to prevent the visitor from exhaustion. battery operated vehicles and road trains facilitate the easy mobility of visitors to animal enclosures and enable maximum coverage. Hand drawn chairs for physically challenged and prams for children are also available.

STAFF WELFARE

P
eriodical health camps and eye check-up camps are organized for the benefit of animal keepers and other staff. These camps are conducted in association with government hospitals, missionaries, trusts and agencies.

ZOO GUIDE

A
n informative and illustrative guide has been developed in collaboration with the centre for environment education Ahmadabad providing zoo ethics and comprehensive information including road map to the animal enclosures and visitor amenities.

ZOO NEWS LETTER

T
he zoo news letter launched in 2000 is an useful source of current news and developments occurring in the zoo. Efforts are being made to publish this on regular intervals.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE : www.aazoopark.gov.in