By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 4 Sep: Uttarakhand is set to get its first white tigers, as the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has accorded permission to the Uttarakhand Forest Department to bring two white tigers to Dehradun Zoo from either Gwalior or Odisha. The development comes after years of efforts by the Forest Department to introduce the rare colour variant of the Royal Bengal tiger at the zoo. The proposal to bring the white tiger marks an important development for Uttarakhand’s wildlife tourism sector. Once the exchange arrangements are finalised, the arrival of the animal is expected to generate considerable public interest and provide a new attraction at the Dehradun Zoo.
The CZA has given permission for bringing two white tigers, one from Gwalior Zoo and the other from Nandankanan Zoological Park in Odisha. Efforts are currently focused on bringing the first white tiger from Gwalior, and there is some possibility that it could be brought to Dehradun by Wildlife Week which is observed in October. The Gwalior Zoo has agreed to provide a nearly two-year-old male white tiger to Dehradun Zoo in exchange for a normal Royal Bengal tiger currently housed at the Dehradun facility.
Speaking to Garhwal Post, Dehradun Zoo Director Vaibhav Kumar Singh stated the CZA had accorded permission to Uttarakhand to bring a white tiger from either Odisha or Gwalior, but the final decision would depend on the exchange terms that could be mutually agreed upon by the zoos. He said Gwalior Zoo had sought a pair of Himalayan ghoral, also known as gural, and a normal Royal Bengal tiger from Dehradun Zoo in exchange for a white tiger. Odisha, on the other hand, has sought red pandas in exchange for the white tiger. Singh added that at present there are 3 tigers in Dehradun Zoo.
It may be recalled that presence of tigers at Dehradun Zoo has significantly raised the footfall of visitors to Dehradun Zoo in the past one year.
The latest permission has opened the way for the State to bring a white tiger from Nandankanan as well.
Singh also shared that the Dehradun Zoo is preparing to introduce a zoo safari and a formal proposal in this regard is being prepared. Once approved, the safari would add another attraction for visitors and provide them an opportunity to observe wildlife in a more natural setting.
He said the zoo is also planning to bring several other species, including wolves, foxes and jackals, in the near future. These additions are expected to broaden the range of animals available for visitors and strengthen the zoo’s role in wildlife education and awareness.
Speaking to Garhwal Post, Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal described the development as a significant achievement for Uttarakhand and said that the arrival of the first white tiger would provide a major attraction for wildlife enthusiasts and tourists visiting the State. He said the presence of tigers in Dehradun Zoo had already generated considerable interest among wildlife lovers and had resulted in a significant increase in the number of visitors to Dehradun. The introduction of a white tiger, he said, would further enhance the zoo’s appeal and could give an additional boost to wildlife tourism in the State.
Uniyal added that the government is also looking at expanding wildlife tourism infrastructure beyond Dehradun. He said a zoo is also being planned in Haldwani, which would provide another important facility for wildlife education, conservation and tourism in the Kumaon region. The proposed facility, he added, would complement the existing wildlife attractions in the State and help create greater awareness about the rich biodiversity of Uttarakhand.
Meanwhile responding to a question about the possibility of further expansion, Singh acknowledged that availability of additional space is a major constraint for Dehradun Zoo. However, he said there are still possibilities of introducing additional species and improving the existing facilities within the available area. He pointed out that Dehradun Zoo is categorised as a small zoo, and therefore its expansion and introduction of new species has to be planned carefully in accordance with the available space and applicable guidelines.
