Mysuru: Mysuru Zoo will be hosting the annual conference of Indian Zoos in collaboration with Central Zoo Authority (CZA), New Delhi, from Dec.18 to 21.

Announcing this at a press meet at Mysuru Zoo auditorium here yesterday, Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) Chairperson Mallige Veeresh said that the first two-days (Dec.18 and 19) of the Conference will take place at Hotel Radisson Blu on M.G. Road in city and the next two days (Dec. 20 and 21) at Kabini Backwaters in the district.

Pointing out that the theme for this year is ‘Vision 2030 for Zoos in India,’ she said that last year’s conference took place at Dehradun.

Stating that she will be inaugurating the Conference at 9 am on Dec.18, Mallige Veeresh said that Kishan Singh Sugara, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Bengaluru, will preside.

PCCF (retd.) and CZA Member C.S. Yelakki, PCCF (Wildlife) – Bengaluru Punati Sridhar, CZA Member Dr. D.N. Singh, APCCF C. Jayaram, ZAK Member Secretary and APCCF B.P. Ravi and other top Forest officials will take part, she added.

Zoo Executive Director C. Ravishankar said that more than 45 Directors and Curators from across the country will take part in the four-day annual conference. The conference will discuss key issues such as Forest conservation, plastic free zones, greenery etc.

Declaring that the CZA has sanctioned Rs. 21.8 lakh for the conferences, he said that 21 resource persons from across the country will present lectures and power-point presentations.

Representatives from over 27 States have registered for the conference, he added.