MISSION

To connect visitors and animals through exemplary animal welfare and care, best educational and inspirational experiences, fostering public appreciation and support for wild animals and conservation”

UNIQUENESS

Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, popularly known as ‘Mysuru Zoo’, is one of the oldest zoos of the country established by his highness, the erstwhile ruler of Mysuru Sri Chamarajendra Wadiyar Bahadur. Mysuru Zoo is known for its meticulous planning, cleanliness, conservation breeding of endangered species, housing exotic animals from around the globe and recreation of natural habitat for captive animals.

The zoo is located in the heart of the city and its easy accessibility for public transport and other various tourist places has made it a much favored tourist center. Mysuru Zoo sports favorable climate, the temperatures goes up to 35 degrees in peak summer and below 20 degrees in winters.

• Wide variety of animals; native and exotics
• Excellent visitor facilities
• Centre of Conservation Education
• Excellent waste management and water harvesting system in place
• Self sustaining Zoo (earns its own revenue)
• Rescue and Rehabilitation of Wild Animals
• Conservation Breeding of Endangered Animals

MY BELOVED FOUNDER

His Highness SriChamarajendra Wodeyar Bahadur, the 23rd Ruler of Yadu Dynasty started this zoo during the year 1892. This Zoo Garden was designed not for amusement of the Royalty but to educate the people of the State about Wildlife. It has the unique distinction of breeding rare species in captivity and emphasis was laid towards the comfort and wellbeing of the animals.

The special feature of this zoo is the meticulous planning; they resorted in recreating the natural habitat for the different species. The ideas and techniques used were really revolutionary for that period.

In commemoration of esteemed founder, a bust of His Highness Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar was installed near the entrance of zoo during the Centenary Celebration.

MY INTRODUCTION

Hello my dear friends, first of all I thank you for visiting my website. Let me introduce myself. My name is Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens and I am popularly known as Mysuru Zoo, I was established in the year 1892 and during 1909, I was named after my dear founder, Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar Bahadur. He engaged Mr. G.H. Krumbeigal, a German Landscaper and a horticulturist who had created the beautiful and attractive landscape for me.

Initially, I was started with an area of 10.9 acres and in 1907 an additional 6.22 acres was included in me; and subsequently I was expanded to 45 acres. Mr. Huge, an Australian national was selected to head the expanded me as the superintendent. Later, another 50 acres of Kensington Gardens along with the Thandisadak was acquired and thus my total area has increased to 157.02 acre including 77.02 acres of Karanji Lake as on today.

My special feature is my meticulous planning; I’m resorted in recreating the natural habitat for the different species of animals. A master plan was prepared on modern lines by removing the barred and fenced enclosures and providing moated enclosures for all the animals. At first, large-ape enclosures were built in the country in 1877 with big trees, bushes and lush grass for these animals to roam around and enjoy. A pair of Gorillas, Orangutans and some Chimpanzees acquired from other zoos and for the first time in Indian history, all these species of large apes could be seen together.

During his tours to European Countries and Africa, the Maharaja used to select and bring interesting animals such as Chimpanzee, Giraffe, Antelopes, Primates and Bears. I have carved niche for successfully exhibiting some of the rarest family members like Californian Sea lions, American Bison, Gunaco, Secretary Bird, Polar Bear, Penguin, Kangaroo and White Elephant in the past.

Even today I have my own very special exhibits. At present I’m housing more than 1450 specimen comprising 150 species representing more than 25 countries. These fascinating Animals include:

1. Big Cats: Tiger, Leopard, Lions, Jaguar, Cheetahs
2. Smaller Cats: Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Small Indian Civet, Common Palm Civet
3. Primates: Chimpanzee, Gorilla, Orangutans, Capuchin Monkey, Marmoset, Lion Tailed Macaque, Hoolock Gibbon, Baboon, Brown Lemur, Ring Tailed Lemur, Nilgiri Langur, Common Langur.
4. Deer and Antelopes: Spotted Deer, Hog Deer, Swamp Deer, Mouse Deer, Nilgai, Four Horned Antelope, Barking Deer, Black Buck, Fallow Deer, Goral.
5. Large Mammals: Asiatic Elephants, African Elephants, Indian Rhino, Southern White Rhino, Hippopotamus, Gaur.
6. Aquatic Birds: Eurasian spoonbill, Pelicans, Flamingo, Adjutant Stork, Painted Stork Sacred Ibis
7. Terrestrial Birds: Macaws, Conures, Pheasants, Sarus Crane, Great Indian Hornbill, Peafowl, Tragopan, Parrots and Parakeets.
8. Ducks: Muscovy Duck, Spotted Whistling Duck, Comb Duck, Carolina Wood Duck
9. Flightless Birds: Ostrich, Rhea, Cassowary and Emu
10. Reptiles: Anaconda, King Cobra, Indian Cobra, 7 types of Crocodiles, Iguana

Mysuru Zoo is most fortunate to continuously acquire some of the exotic species from Foreign Zoos with the Co-ordination of Central Zoo Authority and other Government Departments.

I am very clean and visitor friendly attracting more than 3 million visitors annually. I feel happy that I have become one of the attractive tourist centers in the country.

My highlight is my maintenance of my greenery throughout the year with development of garden, continuous planting of saplings, ensuring cleanliness, avoiding littering of plastic materials such as plastic covers/handbags, educating visitors about plastic free zone, sustainable management practices such as rain water harvesting, solid waste management and establishment of live feed units. Thanks to all my care takers.

I have always focused on the animal housing enrichments, animal comforts, hygiene and sanitation and developing better care facilities, and also to simulate and suit their behavioral needs. Significant programmes such as breeding of endangered fauna apart from exotic and endangered species are successfully carried out. They are my family members and I always stand by my responsibilities.

I am also pioneering in captive breeding program and this has resulted in breeding more than 100 species in captivity. Providing spacious enclosure with a natural setting for welfare of the animals and also better education to the visitors became priority for me. My most promising feature is my role as an orphanage for rearing the abandoned / deserted animals. I feel concerned and responsible for them as well.

I have always made education a priority. I organize 'Zoo Education programmes' throughout the year regularly involving students / NGO's / Resource Persons / Volunteers and thus the I am reaching more than 15 – 20 thousand people through such educational programmes every year. I have given 5 acres of Zoo land for establishing Natural History Museum to enhance the educational potential of the Zoo. In-reach / Outreach / special programme for physically challenged and special group children, Literary Competitions, celebration of wildlife week, World Environment Day, Youth Club activities, Summer Camp activities, better signage’s, programme for forestry students, veterinary students, RFO trainees, keepers training, teachers training and publications, internship for students, officer trainees, etc., are the main education programmes organized here.

There has been a touching response for the Animal Adoption Programme every year through sponsorship from the Public/Celebrities / Institutions. The income tax Department has extended tax rebate u/s 80G, for the donations made towards animal adoptions. The animal adoption contribution has a significant sum Rs.25 – 30 lakhs and a valuable support for managing the affairs of Zoo. I have attained self-sufficiency in managing the affairs since the year 2002.

I have ventured to produce vermicompost for the first time by using the animal waste as well as dried and fallen leaves.

I am concentrating on better Health Care Management, with 3 Vets, well equipped modern hospital, Laboratory, X-Ray and incubator facilities. I am also encouraging research activities by providing resource to the Veterinary University students and other Research Institutes across the country and have established live feed unit with the financial assistance of Central Zoo Authority as 'prevention is better than cure' policy. These preventive measures have helped to reduce the mortality rate below 5%. I am really happy and working towards reducing it even more in coming future.

Realizing the importance of visitors, I am providing better facilities like eco-friendly battery operated vehicles, lawns, toll free toilets, RO drinking water facility, food court, library, wheel chairs and umbrellas.

I am one of the best not only because I’m more than 125 years old and provided with large naturalistic enclosures but has displayed all Indian and Exotic species and bred most of them successfully. I’m also famous for wonderful documentation and maintenance of Stud book, history and treatment records serving as an Education Institution and by conducting various educational activities throughout the year for creating awareness, successful hand rearing of exotic and endangered species, rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned, deserted and abandoned animals.

Over years, I have expanded my area of service, as on today I have 113 acre exclusive facility for rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals. This facility also has conservation breeding centre for Indian Gaur, Dholes, Grey Wolf and Lion Tailed Macaque. In coming years I want to start conservation breeding of Nilgiri Langur, Giant Squirrel and Grey Jungle Fowl.