Get dropped at the gate, park cars outside: But a politician asks why?

The Chairperson of Zoo Authority of Karnataka Mallige Veeresh and the Executive Director of the Mysuru Zoo Kamala Karikalan have together set a very good example in protecting the inside of the Zoo from noise pollution and air pollution caused by their official cars by deciding to park their vehicles outside the Zoo gate (near the bus bay) in the area meant for parking vehicles.

When Star of Mysore asked the Chairperson and the Executive Director on why they are not parking their vehicles inside as was done in the past, they said that they were only following the example set by the former Zoo Executive Director B.P. Ravi in this regard and they thought it made much sense in the greater interest of the Zoo animals, some of them are highly sensitive to toxic fumes and noise.

When SOM asked why then an issue was made by a local politician saying that the ZAK Chairperson Mallige Veeresh was prevented from taking the car inside and parking deliberately by the Executive Director, Mallige Veeresh said she was surprised and she never complained to anyone in this regard because she herself agreed with the idea of parking the cars outside the Zoo premises. She told SOM, “Sorry Sir, this is a non-issue.”

It may be mentioned here that the politician concerned,  who for whatsoever reason, has not only spoken on behalf of the ZAK Chairperson but also sent a photograph of her car parked outside to our newspaper apparently thereby making a controversy where there was none in the matter of the administration of the Zoo.

Zoo Executive Director Kamala Karikalan too said that they want to prevent animals, some of them rare breeds,                 being disturbed by the vehicles. “We park our vehicles outside the gate and enter the Zoo through a small gate by              the side. We don’t want any disturbance and this is the reason why we use electric buggies inside the zoo,” she added.