Srinagar

Kashmir’s maiden zoo in a famous tourist destination Pahalgam area of South Kashmir will initially have over 20 species for display and will be set up at a cost of Rs 100 Crore and the zoo, spread over 47 hectares of land, reports claimed.

A report published in media outlet CNN- News 18 by Mufti Islah said that Zoo will house native species like the leopard, Himalayan black and brown bears, spotted deer, musk deer, Hangul – the Kashmiri stag – and the goat-antelope species of Serow, Goral, Markhor, Grey Langoors, leopard cat and even the prized snow leopard will also be exhibited in the zoo.

CNN-News 18 quoted the Intisar Suhail, wildlife warden in South Kashmir, saying that “the department proposes to build 10 states of art enclosures for the upkeep of the animals to start with and the enclosures will be on modern lines as per European standards and will gel with the valley climate.”

Suhail said work on the peripheral fencing is on and the next step is to erect the animal enclosures. “Our department will float tenders and experts will then design the zoo as per the Zoo Authority of India guidelines,” he added.

“There would be sections for reptiles like the viper and rat snakes, birds like partridges, tragopan, fouls and even butterflies.”

The Pahalgam zoo will be an upgrade of the nine-hectare deer park that was set up on a hillside at an altitude of 7,000 feet. A 43-hectare land was added to the proposed zoo.

The zoo is situated next to the golf club and sits in the middle of Overa-Aru wildlife sanctuary arc and on top of a roaring Lidder river, News 18 reported.

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