An Meadow of Varied Species

Vandalur Zoo which is popularly known as Arignar Anna Zoological Garden is situated in Vandalur, this is a suburb which is at the distance of 31 km in the southern part of the Chennai city. This zoo is in the close proximity of Guindy National Park; this is the very first zoo open for public and is also recognised through the Central Zoo Authority of India. This zoo is spread over an area of 1,488 which includes the rehabilitation and rescue centre of 228 acre.

In India Vandalur Zoo is the one the largest zoo that is abode to seven white tigers. It domiciles more than different species of animals 170 in numbers which are in about 81 enclosures. Here you can have a look at 47 mammal species, 31 species of reptiles, 63 species of birds, 25 species of fishes, 5 species of amphibians and 10 species of insects. This is spread over an area of 1,265 acres and is the largest one in South Asia with several varieties of reptiles, birds and reptiles. The animals meander in likely environs with a unique corral for nocturnal mortals. Here you can also find camels, Hyena, Otter, panther, deers, sangai, Tropical mammals, Hanuman Langur, Monkey species, nilgai, blackbuck, Jackal,, Higher carnivores, birds, llama, jaguar, Leaf capped Langur, Wolf, giraffes, Nilgiri Langur, lion, Elephants, sambar, Snakes, the tiger, Babboon, hog deer, barking deer, reptiles, the endangered lion-tailed Macaque and Star tortoises.

There are some exotic species like Cassowary and Emu that have come from Australia and are the drawing cards here. The other drawing cards here are Safari Park, Nocturnal animal house, Pre-historic Animal Park, Zoo education & Interpretation, Prey-Predator enclosures, a walk-through aviary and an aquarium. The King Cobra here is kept in an air conditioned enclosure as it can’t behold the heat of the summers. All the caves in the zoo are well protected, to provide some coolness to water is sprinkled twice a day. Vandalur Zoo is a woody zoo with plenty of trees all around with placards on them with certain instructions about the region or the animals. On Tuesday’s the zoo remains closed and on the rest of the days the visiting hours are from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.