Office opened for coordinating works on Biological Park at Chakkittappara

A day after administrative sanction of ₹ 13.94 crore was given for the first phase of Biological Park work at Chakkittappara in Kozhikode district, Wildlife and Forest Minister AK Saseendran on Tuesday opened a new office to coordinate work on the project.

The minister also laid the foundation stone of an animal hospice center in Peruvannamuzhi, which will be part of the park for the treatment and rehabilitation of injured wild animals.

Mr. Saseendran said the park will allow people to watch wild animals in their natural ecosystems. The park was designed as a walkable corridor between human habitats and animal habitats. He added that the project will also be developed as a research center on forests and wildlife.

An area of ​​120 hectares has been identified in Muthukad in Peruvannamuzhi district for the establishment of the park. The funds will be used to build an entrance, picket station, bioresource park, vehicle parking, toilets, ticket office, safari station, fern house and orchid house. The second phase will include the construction of animal protection centers and veterinary hospitals.

Considering the developing tourism potential of the area, a Tiger Safari Park had been proposed by the State government in Chakkittappara village. The decision to establish the park was taken on September 27, 2023, ignoring the protests of a section of farmers and human rights activists. Although three locations were being considered, an eight-member panel of senior Forest department officials decided that Chakkittappara was the ideal spot after their study at the field level. The name was changed to ‘Biological Park’ after the National Tiger Conservation Authority raised some technical issues.