Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Zoo in Chennai, India
Arignar Anna Zoological Park is a zoo in Chengalpattu district, India, covering 602 hectares and forming one of the largest animal park facilities in Southeast Asia. The site contains separate sections for mammals, birds, reptiles, and an aquarium, each connected by paved paths and stretches of woodland.
The facility began as the Madras Zoo at Pantheon Complex in 1855 and moved to the current Vandalur site in 1985 under Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran. The relocation allowed for a large increase in land area and provided more space for animal housing and conservation programs.
The name honors C. N. Annadurai, an influential Tamil Nadu politician whose nickname Arignar meant scholar, reflecting the park's educational mission. Families often visit on weekends to walk through shaded pathways and observe animals in enclosures designed to resemble natural habitats.
Visitors can buy tickets online and use a mobile app to find information on exhibits and animal locations. The paths are built for walking, but comfortable shoes are recommended because of the size of the grounds.
The grounds include a 92-hectare rescue and rehabilitation center where specialists care for injured and rescued wildlife from across the region. Visitors can see some of the recovering animals in specially designed areas separate from the main exhibit spaces.
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