IN five months’ time, the National Zoological Park will become much more fun, educational, and family-friendly, when the first petting zoo has been completed.The petting zoo will be part of the Park, and will cater primarily for children. The project for creation of the petting zoo was officially launched, Tuesday, in the Boardroom of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment with handing over of the contract for its completion, worth $32M.

Contractor Alvin Chowramootoo is expected to commence mobilisation later this week, and to complete the project within four or five months.

The official launching of the project was done by Commissioner of the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), Mr. Damian Fernandes, in the presence of Minister Robert Persaud and the following PAC staffers: Ms. Annalise Bayney, Protected Areas Officer with responsibility for the Three Parks Initiative and Urban Parks in Georgetown; and Ms. Adonika Spellen, Senior Supervisor of the Guyana Zoo.

In brief remarks at the launching, Minister Persaud said the facility, along with other improvements at the Park, will make Guyanese more aware of our rich biodiversity, and give them a “rainforest” experience, thus bringing them closer to the green richness of Guyana.

He said he hoped that, being of a very educational nature, the petting zoo would help all and sundry to further understand animals, to inculcate a love for them, and to have an appreciation of the benefits of treating animals humanely.

Mr. Fernandes disclosed that the petting zoo was one of the very first projects to be undertaken as part of a larger plan to modernise the zoological park and elevate it to international standards.

The proposed overall modernisation of the zoo is being executed with support from the Government, the Beharry Group of Companies, and Conservation International (CI).

The petting zoo will be part of a complex that caters for children and focuses primarily on education. It will comprise domesticated animals, and will be constructed so that visitors, including adults, can interact with the animals.

“The kids or adults can play with them (the animals), give them food, and generally learn about the species,” Fernandes said.

He said that when the new facility becomes operational, entrance fees to the park will not be increased, but management of the PAC, which has responsibility for the zoo, is hoping to increase revenues through repeated visitations resulting from the new facility.
Written By Clifford Stanley