Lucknow: The State Forest Department has decided to open satellite zoos in the Kanpur and Lucknow districts to handle overpopulation of inmates, mainly leopards and monkeys, in the existing zoos, officials informed Wednesday.

"We are planning to open a satellite zoo in the Kukrail locality and the site for Kanpur is also in the final stages," principal secretary of the department Shailesh Krishna told reporters.

There is a large crocodile and tortoise breeding centre in the Kukrail locality and a crane recovery unit will also be set up. The forest department of Dehradun has been given this responsibility, he added.

The Officials held a meeting Tuesday and discussed various problems related to wild animals.

"A committee has been formed to conduct research into the reducing wetlands in the state. The issue of tigers and other wild animals being run over by trains on the Bahraich-Paliya-Mailani rail route was also discussed and railway officials assured that the speed of the trains on this route will be checked," an official said.

"The plan to create a tiger reserve and an elephant reserve in Pilibhit district is in process and we hope to take a decision soon," chief wildlife conservator B.K. Patnaik, who attended the meeting, told reporters.

 

Source : ians