Agartala, May 30 (TIWN): The caged clouded leopards at Siphahijala Zoo would soon ‘feel comfortable’ as the authority pushed a plan to erect open enclosure for them.

Not only comfortable, the open enclosure would also increase the breeding capacity of clouded leopard and beatification of the zoo. 

The Central Zoo Authority has already sanctioned Rs. 50 lakh to erect open enclosure for clouded leopard and the PWD is on the move to finalize the design at the earliest, said an official of forest department here today.

“If the PWD clears the project, we will start constructing open enclosure at Sipahijala Zoo within 2014 itself as the money is with us”, he said.

Currently, Sipahijala Zoo has 14 clouded leopards, an endangered species and captive breeding of clouded leopards has already been successful. And the CZA has recognized the good work done by the zoo authority.   

“Once the open enclosure is established, clouded leopards will not only feel comfortable but also increase the breeding capacity of the endangered species”, he said. Besides, it will also look good for animal lovers.

On the face-lift plan for Sipahijala Zoo, he said the authority has already sent a revised master plan to the National Zoo Authority (NZA). The NZA’s Master Plan Approval Committee and Technical Committees would soon meet in which mater plan for Sipahijala Zoo might be cleared, he said.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Sanatan Talukdar said the government has already sent a master plan amounting to Rs. 10 crore for overall development of Sipahijala Zoo. If the plan is approved, the Centre will pump fund on regular basis to bring a sea change in Sipahijala Zoo.

Here it may be noted that Sipahijala Zoo has already got the tag of Regional Model Zoo for proper conservation of endangered species of animals.