Chhatbir zoo all set to reopen tomorrow
Chandigarh, July 18
The Chhatbir zoo will reopen on July 20 with a rider of a limited number of daily visitors and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour.
Adults above 65 years and children below five years of age have been requested not to visit the zoo.
What you need to know
- Visitors have been requested to avoid visiting the zoo if they have cough, cold and fever symptoms
- Adults above 65 years and children below five years of age have been requested not to visit the zoo
- All visitors shall be under CCTV surveillance and violators of Covid guidelines shall face a penalty of up to Rs500
The Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation, Punjab, announced the reopening of the Chhatbir zoo and four small zoos at Ludhiana, Bathinda, Patiala and Neelon from July 20.
The Chhatbir zoo will remain open to 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 staggered entry and social distancing, visitors will be allowed in three slots — 9.30 am-11:30 ( a maximum of 1,800 visitors can enter), 11.30 am-noon (break for sanitisation). From noon to 2 pm, again a maximum of 1,800 visitors can enter the zoo. From 2 pm to 2.30 pm, there will be a break for sanitisation and from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm, a maximum of 1,800 visitors can enter. Only a limited number of tickets will be available in different slots till normalcy returns.
The entry tickets will be valid only for two hours after the entry. Tickets for entry to the zoo and other facilities can be booked virtually, the link for which has been provided on the zoo website (chhatbirzoo.gov.in). Besides, the QR code system and POS machine facility will also be available at the zoo booking counter for those who are unable to book tickets through the web link.
Free Wi-Fi hotspot facility is available in the entry area of the zoo for hassle-free online booking of entry tickets.Tickets for battery-operated trolleys will be available at the site. It will be allowed only for group visitors/family members, who may reserve a full trolley at the prescribed rate with strict social distancing norms and safety measures.
To ensure the safety of visitors, some facilities such as wildlife safari (lion safari and deer safari), reptile house and nocturnal house of the zoo will be closed for visitors till normalcy returns.
Facility was closed on May 6
A couple of days after eight Asiatic lions tested positive for Covid-19 at Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, the authorities had ordered the closure of the Chhatbir zoo on May 6. Last year, the zoo was closed due to the pandemic on March 17 and it was reopened in December, causing a revenue loss of Rs5-crore. The zoo, which is spread over 505 acres, is home to around 1,500 animals and birds. Around nine lakh people visit it every year. — TNS
