Kerala’s first international zoo to open in Puthur tomorrow

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate Kerala’s first zoological park built to international standards at Puthur in Thrissur on Tuesday, marking the completion of a two-decade-long project that endured repeated delays and setbacks during the tenure of the previous UDF governments.

Spread across 338 acres of forest land, the Puthoor Zoological Park replaces the historic but congested Thrissur Zoo, which has operated in the city since 1885. The new facility, designed by Australian zoological architect John Coe, features 23 animal habitats created in tune with the region’s natural terrain, allowing wildlife to live and move in more open, natural conditions.

The idea for the new park was first proposed in 2003 and formally initiated in 2006 under the V S Achuthanandan-led LDF government. After a series of relocations and bureaucratic delays, the final site at Puthoor was approved in 2009. The foundation stone was laid in 2010, but progress stalled for several years due to lack of funds and limited administrative focus under the UDF regime.

A breakthrough came in 2016 when the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) stepped in to finance the project. With an initial allocation of 150 crore rupees, construction gained momentum, covering major infrastructure such as internal roads, animal enclosures, and service facilities. The total cost has since risen beyond 370 crore rupees.

Work was briefly halted in 2018 after the Union Environment Ministry raised objections, but the state government defended the project and secured clearance to continue.

The park now includes a veterinary hospital, animal kitchens, post-mortem unit, and isolation and quarantine facilities. The relocation of animals from the old Thrissur Zoo is currently underway.

Officials said the park will open to visitors in January after a two-month trial period to allow animals to adapt to their new environment. Authorities expect around five million visitors annually once the park becomes fully operational.

Located close to Peechi Dam and Marottichal waterfalls, the Puthur Zoological Park is set to anchor the proposed Ollur Tourism Corridor, providing a new centre for tourism and economic activity in central Kerala.

After years of neglect and delay under the UDF government, the project’s completion now stands as a flagship achievement of the LDF administration, a long -deferred vision realised through sustained effort and decisive support from KIIFB.