If you are an animal lover and have plans to visit Vandlur zoo again, be prepared to shell out more than you did last time.
On Wednesday, the zoo administration almost doubled ticket prices for the Arignar Anna Zoological Park. An adult ticket will now cost Rs 50 instead of Rs 30, while entry fees for children have been doubled to Rs 20. Zoo rounds on a vehicle will be Rs 100 per adult as against the earlier Rs 30, while for children this ride will cost Rs 50, five times more than before. Lion safari charges have been upped to Rs 50 (adult) and Rs 30 (children). The corresponding rates were Rs 30 and Rs 10.
Zoo director and additional principal chief conservator of forests Amit Asthana told that ticket prices were revised to meet the increasing cost of feed and other essentials. A large chunk of the zoo revenue is spent on food for animals. "Five years ago, 1kg of groundnut cost us Rs 45, today it is Rs 100. The price of beef has gone up from Rs 73.50 per kilogram in 2012 to Rs 170 now," said Asthana. The official said price of fish has doubled and so has that of chicken.
Till the formation of State Zoo Authority in 2006, Vandalur zoo was dependent on the state government for funds. But most of the time, money was released towards the end of the financial year which held up development works. With the formation of the authority, the zoo became an independent body. Since then, the gate collection is ploughed back to buy feed and take up development works, said a zoo official.
The official said in 2011- 12, the zoo earned Rs 4.20 crore as gate money. This touched Rs 6.70 crore next year. In 2013-14, gate collection rose to Rs 7.50 crore and then touched Rs 7.90 crore the next fiscal. In 2015-16, earnings peaked at Rs 9.50 crore but this fiscal, gate money took a beating after the zoo was damaged by cyclone Vardah and remained closed till early February.
On Wednesday, the zoo administration almost doubled ticket prices for the Arignar Anna Zoological Park. An adult ticket will now cost Rs 50 instead of Rs 30, while entry fees for children have been doubled to Rs 20. Zoo rounds on a vehicle will be Rs 100 per adult as against the earlier Rs 30, while for children this ride will cost Rs 50, five times more than before. Lion safari charges have been upped to Rs 50 (adult) and Rs 30 (children). The corresponding rates were Rs 30 and Rs 10.
Zoo director and additional principal chief conservator of forests Amit Asthana told that ticket prices were revised to meet the increasing cost of feed and other essentials. A large chunk of the zoo revenue is spent on food for animals. "Five years ago, 1kg of groundnut cost us Rs 45, today it is Rs 100. The price of beef has gone up from Rs 73.50 per kilogram in 2012 to Rs 170 now," said Asthana. The official said price of fish has doubled and so has that of chicken.
Till the formation of State Zoo Authority in 2006, Vandalur zoo was dependent on the state government for funds. But most of the time, money was released towards the end of the financial year which held up development works. With the formation of the authority, the zoo became an independent body. Since then, the gate collection is ploughed back to buy feed and take up development works, said a zoo official.
The official said in 2011- 12, the zoo earned Rs 4.20 crore as gate money. This touched Rs 6.70 crore next year. In 2013-14, gate collection rose to Rs 7.50 crore and then touched Rs 7.90 crore the next fiscal. In 2015-16, earnings peaked at Rs 9.50 crore but this fiscal, gate money took a beating after the zoo was damaged by cyclone Vardah and remained closed till early February.