Establishing National Animal Conservation academy and Zoological Garden Management: Minister

Plans are afoot to establish a National Institute on Animal Conservation and Zoological Garden Management by the Agriculture, Wildlife, and Forest Resources Conservation Ministry, which could edify the local and foreign students who are interested in it.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said today that arrangements have been reached to present a ministerial paper in connection with this.

He said it has also been decided to provide adequate facilities to many local and foreign students in this academic institution. The National Zoological Department has the necessary human resources for these studies.

Accordingly, the Dehiwala National Zoo, Ridiyagama National Safari Park, Pinnawala Elephant sactuary, and Pinnawala Zoological Garden will come under the Department of National Zoological Garden, which is under the Ministry, as well as the farms at Diyagama, Kahapola, and Gonapola for the production of food for  animals.

These zoos shelter about 5,000 animals belonging to 300 species of wild animals. 

However, it has been found that the lack of a national academy for animal conservation and zoo management has been a shortcoming so far.

Currently, there are about 800 staff including animal caretakers, veterinarians, mahouts, aquarium attendants in the National Zoological Departmentbut there is no specialized institute to nurture them with adequate training, the Minister said.

Also, in the past, about 300 groups of foreign students from countries such as China, Australia, Spain, Netherlands, India, Latvia, Czech Republic, Pakistan, Malaysia and Britain visited this country to receive training in wildlife conservation and zoo management. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)