6 global consultants shortlisted.

​Visakhapatnam: French and Singapore consultants are among the six out of 23 shortlisted for preparing master plan for the development of Indira Gandhi Zoological Park for which World Bank has sanctioned $6 million (Rs 36 crore) in January this year. Apart from the two foreign companies, four from the country also submitted their papers.

Curator K Vijay Kumar said the six member list has been submitted to the World Bank authorities recently and they would decided on the best by end of this month.

After consultants are finalized, the government will float tenders for development, he said. Earlier 15 consultants applied when the deadline ended in February and on suggestions from World Bank, the date was extended and 23 consultants including some foreign submitted their applications.

"Most of them were not experts in development of zoos. As per profiles they were experts in landscaping and beautification. What we need is good ambience and good enclosures as per international standards,’’ said VijayKumar.

Vizag zoo spread over in around 700 acres in the reserve forest abetting the sea coast ranks among the top ten in the country in animal keeping and ambience .

And with the funds from World Bank, the Vizag zoo is poised to become number one in the country, the curator said. A team from Israel who recently visited the zoo to donate chimpanzees were also impressed with the environment in the zoo and decided to donate Zebras. Other than Rs 36 crore for zoo development, the WB is also providing Rs 13 crore for eco tourism project at Kambalakonda and Rs 75 crore for development of palm forest and field renovations.

After the development process starts, the zoo is planning for captive breeding of three endangered species that used to be found in the wilderness of Andhra Pradesh.

The three species- Mouse deer, Fishing Cat and Rusty Spotted Cat- are considered as the scheduled I and scheduled II animals under Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

By: KMP Patnaik