NEW KERALA (India) 24 January 07 Birsa Zoo to house venomous snakes as an attraction
Ranchi (PTI): All but technical expertise is delaying the inauguration of a snake park at Birsa Zoological Park here.
"We have already set up a suitable infrastructure with construction of fifteen large cells to make the snake park one of the largest in the country," Zoo director, Deepak Singh said.
Contacts to get the venomous and non-poisonous creatures have already been established with snake parks in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and West Bengal, Singh said, adding February could be suitable for the inauguration.
"But our first priority is to get technical expertise to handle venomous snakes, before inaugurating the park. Because an ordinary zoo staff cannot do the job without proper training," he said.
Stating that close observation of serpents was required to understand their eating habits, Singh said one should closely study them to know when and how to feed them.
"A couple of appointments for staff will be necessary for this purpose," he added.
The park can ideally house fifteen species, but to start with it could be less than the target, he said.
The infrastructure has suitable temperatures between 18 and 35 degrees celsius.
"Temperatures of the enclosures are the most important factor for the survival of snakes who cannot bear extreme conditions," the Director said.
Chennai has the largest snake park in Asia because its climatic conditions suit the serpents.
One more important factor was that very few snakes belonging to different species could co-exist inside a single cell, he said adding, "Care will be taken to house each species in separate cells".
Birsa Zoo to house venomous snakes as an attraction