Arignar Anna Zoological Park

Arignar Anna Zoological Park
The main entrance of the zoo
Map
12°52′45″N 80°04′54″E / 12.87917°N 80.08167°E / 12.87917; 80.08167
Date opened1855; 169 years ago (1855) (as Madras Zoo)[1]
1985; 39 years ago (1985) (in current location)[2]
Date opening24 July 1985
LocationVandalur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Land areaTotal: 602 ha (1,490 acres)[3]
Zoo: 510 ha (1,300 acres)[4]
Rescue and Rehabilitation Center:92.45 ha (228.4 acres)
No. of animals2,644 (2018)
No. of species171 (2018)
Annual visitors2.04 million (2018–2019)
MembershipsCZA,[5] WAZA[6]
Major exhibitsTiger, leopard, lion (hybrid), wild dog, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, hyena, jackal, blackbucks, Indian bison, barking deer, sambhar, spotted deer, crocodile, snakes, water birds, Indian Rhinoceros[7]
Websitehttps://www.aazp.in/

Arignar Anna Zoological Park (abbreviated AAZP), also known as the Vandalur Zoo, is a zoological garden located in Vandalur, Chennai, India, about 31 kilometres (19 mi) from the Chennai Central and 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Chennai Airport. Established in 1855, it is the second public zoo in India.[8] It is affiliated with the Central Zoo Authority of India.[9] Spread over an area of 602 hectares (1,490 acres), including a 92.45-hectare (228.4-acre) rescue and rehabilitation centre. The zoo houses 2,553 species of flora and fauna across 1,265 acres (512 ha). As of 2012 the park houses around 1,500 wild species, including 46 endangered species, in its 160 enclosures.[10] As of 2010, there were about 47 species of mammals, 63 species of birds, 31 species of reptiles, 5 species of amphibians, 28 species of fishes, and 10 species of insects in the park.[11] The park, with an objective to be a repository of the state's fauna, is credited with being the second wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu after Mudumalai National Park.[12]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference cza_history was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference zoo_stats2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference zoo_stats was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference cza_list was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference waza_list was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference cza_animals was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Zoos in India -- from 1800 to now". sphozanhi.tripod.com. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  9. ^ "List of Zoos, whose Master Plan received till 31st March, 2011" (PDF). Central Zoo Authority of India. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  10. ^ Madhavan, D. (17 January 2012). "City zoo ropes in students to keep a watch on visitors". The Times of India. Chennai. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference zoo_stats3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Madhavan, D. (30 July 2008). "No more jumbo rides at Vandalur". The Times of India. Chennai. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2011.