Tiger cubs Amar, Arjun, Dilnoor to attract visitors to zoo

Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 9

The Chhatbir zoo is set to reopen tomorrow after a gap of over eight months with a strict Covid-19 protocol for the safety of visitors, employees and animals. It has been lying closed since March 17.

M Sudhagar, Field Director, Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park, Chhatbir, said, “Visitors will get an opportunity to see tiger cubs Amar, Arjun and Dilnoor for the first time. Also, the Indian fox, along with her newborn pups, will be an attraction for the first time.”

Many new facilities and amenities such as mom and baby care room, free Wi-Fi hotspots, coffee booth, control room, selfie points, new rest room, hassle-free parking, touch-free hand wash and sanitiser dispensers have been added in the zoo for the visitors.

Several new facilities added

Many new facilities and amenities such as mom and baby care room, free Wi-Fi hotspots, coffee booth, control room, selfie points, new rest room, hassle-free parking, touch-free hand wash and sanitiser dispensers have been added in the zoo for the visitors.

The zoo administration has worked out a set of norms to be followed as standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prepare towards reopening of the zoo and its facilities for the visitors.

The zoo will be opened for the public six days a week (Monday closed). Entry for visitors will be allowed from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm (instead of 9 am to 5 pm). To ensure the optimal carrying capacity in the zoo at any point of time, the number of visitors entering the zoo has been regulated. A maximum of 2,700 visitors will be allowed to visit the zoo in a single day till normalcy returns.

Only a limited number of timed tickets will be available in different slots to ensure staggered entry and social distancing.

The entry tickets will be valid only for two hours after the entry.

What you need to know

• 9.30 am Zoo opens
• 9.30 am-11.30 am Max 900 visitors can enter
• 11.30 am-noon Break for sanitisation
• Noon-2 pm Max 900 visitors can enter
• 2 pm-2.30 pm Break for sanitisation
• 2.30 pm-4.30 pm Max 900 visitors can enter
• 4.30 pm Zoo closes