About Thiruvananthapuram Zoological Park
About Zoo
Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is one of the large zoos of the country spread over 30 acres of land and located in
the temple city of Thiruvananthapuram.
The zoo offers rare opportunity for the visitors to experience and enjoy unparalleled picturesque and
panoramic sylvan surroundings besides vivid animal collections.
Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, one of the oldest in the country, was established as an adjunct to the Museum in
1859 by the erstwhile Maharaja of Travancore in order to attract more visitors.
The modernization of the zoo is undertaken by the State Government with the technical assistance of the
Central Zoo Authority, Government of India. Over the period of time justifications of establishing a zoo
have changed from mere exhibition and amusement to research, education and ex-situ conservation.
Thiruvananthapuram zoo houses several endangered species of regional significance, and is participatory in the Conservation Breeding Programme of Lion tailed Macaques. For health care the zoo has a team of veterinary staff and a well-equipped Zoo Hospital. The Zoo also shoulders the rearing of rescued and orphaned wild animals.The zoo has a natural lake with well wooded landscapes, supporting 93 species of free roaming birds including many migratory birds. Besides birds, zoo serves as habitat for several species of butterflies, dragonflies, damsel flies, ants, beetles, spiders etc. Besides the free roaming fauna, more than 100 different species of both exotic and indigenous plant varieties inside the zoo provide an excellent ambience to the visitors. An area is specially ear marked in the Zoos as Butterfly garden, where several host and nectar plants are planted, this serves as a live repository collection of butterflies. One can explore and study about 120 species in this park.
This club started in the year 2020 organizes monthly bird, odonate and butterfly monitoring surveys in Zoo compound. Many school, college and naturalist are active member of this group. The club also organizes many taxonomy workshops for students and naturalists.
Trivandrum Zoo supports students interested in carrying out short term or long-term research activities in Zoo inmates.
Citizens willing to be part and parcel of Trivandrum Zoo’s workforce can donate their services on non-profit basis for activities like sanitation drive, planting tree saplings and crowd management.
Important days related to wildlife and nature is observed in Zoo. Various competitions are organized for students during National Wildlife week.
A committee was formed in 1855 with the Maharaja of Travancore as Patron, General Cullen as president, The Elaya Raja as vice president and Mr. Allen Brown as Secretary of the Committee and the Director of Museum. The Museum was thrown open to the Public in September 1857. But the Museum by itself could not attract the people much, and therefore a Zoo and a park were started in 1859. The zoo was originally built with the typical iron-barred cages prevalent at the time, and was designed for recreational purposes, but with increased loss of forest and wildlife due to human development, the goal of the Zoo has changed from recreation to conservation
A modernization project started in 1995, aims to gradually replace the old enclosures with spacious naturalistic enclosures. The state government of Kerala is undertaking this renovation with financial and technical help from the Central Zoo Authority