Gujarat: 38 Animals, birds die at Statue of Unity complex in 2 years

The Gujarat Assembly was informed on Tuesday that 38 introduced species and birds, brought from other states and countries, have died at the Sardar Patel Zoological Park in the last two years. The park, also known as Jungle Safari, is part of the Statue of Unity complex in Kevadia, Narmada district.

The state government admitted the high mortality rate of the wildlife in response to a starred question raised by Congress MLA Gulabsinh Chauhan.

Many imported animals die, and costly

According to the details shared, out of 295 animals and birds translocated from various places, 38 have succumbed to various causes as of December 31, 2023. The government also revealed that more than Rs 4 lakh has been spent on procuring and maintaining such introduced wildlife animals in the last two years.

The deceased animals and birds include three alpacas, one wallaby, four sun conures, three green-cheeked conures, seven blue pheasants, three silver pheasants, three red-billed toucans, three thiamin deer, three squirrel monkeys, and one marsh crocodile. These species are native to different continents such as Africa, Australia, Asia, and America, and are not adapted to the local climate and habitat of Gujarat.

This is not the first time that the Sardar Patel Zoological Park has faced criticism over the deaths of its inhabitants. In March 2023, the Gujarat government disclosed that 12 introduced animals and birds had died between February 1, 2021, and January 31, 2023, at the park. The total number of animals and birds housed at the park in these two years was 940. The government had cited respiratory arrest and cardio-pulmonary arrest as the major reasons for the deaths, without giving further details.

Sardar Patel Zoological Park

The Sardar Patel Zoological Park and the Geodesic Aviary Dome in the Statue of Unity complex was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 30, 2020. The park covers 375 acres of land and hosts about 170 different species of wildlife from across the world.

The Sardar Patel Zoological park is built with an “open design”, where the animals are not kept in cages, but in their natural environment. The park also offers a jungle safari, a bird aviary, and a walkthrough aviary for visitors.

The Statue of Unity is an 182-meter tall statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Home Minister and a prominent leader of the freedom struggle. The statue is the world’s tallest statue and a major tourist attraction in Gujarat.

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