HYDERABAD: The Zoo Authority of Andhra Pradesh is planning to introduce battery-operated vans and increase number of bicycles for visitors to zoos in order to reduce the entry of private vehicles. It has also started planting more trees in open areas to enhance the greenery.The three zoos in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati are visited by about 325 vehicles everyday and the number almost doubles on Sundays. “To make the zoos pollution-free and visitor-friendly, we plan to introduce battery-operated vans for visitors, increase number of bicycles and plant more trees,” said P Mallikarjuna Rao, AP Zoos director. Zoos and forest department officials recently held a meeting with state forest and environment minister S Vijaya Ramaraju and decided to reduce air and noise pollution in zoos by reducing entry of private vehicles, added the zoos director.Battery-operated vans are run on rechargeable battery and don’t produce noise and carbon dioxide. The vans will be have open doors and carry 16 to 20 persons at a time. The ticket charge will be decided after the vehicles are up and running, said Mallikurjana Rao. The Hyderabad zoo will soon get 35 battery-operated vehicles. Animal keepers at state zoos say the vehicles disturb animals as many visitors play music as well as sound the horn despite warning. “On Sundays, the zoo looks more like a car park,” said a senior animal keeper at Hyderabad zoo. To control entry of private vehicles, the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad has decided to increase the entry fees for cars, vans and jeeps from Rs 500 to Rs 750 from December 26. It has also increased number of bicycles from 40 to 50. On Tuesday about 60 plants were planted, said MA Waheed, curator of Hyderabad zoo.
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