Published Sep 17, 2026 | 7:14 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 17, 2026 | 7:14 PM
Thiruvananthapuram zoo has more than 1,000 animals and birds belonging to 89 species.
Chief Minister VD Satheesan’s suggestion to relocate the Thiruvananthapuram Zoological Park from the city centre has triggered a debate, with political leaders differing over the future of the 167-year-old institution.
Satheesan, while speaking about developing facilities to attract visitors and encourage longer stays in Keralam, suggested moving the zoo to Neyyar or another forested location where the animals could have a more natural habitat.
He proposed converting the existing site into a public square with visitor amenities, drawing comparisons with prominent urban squares such as Madison Square in New York or Old Town Square in Prague.
The proposal received support from Thiruvananthapuram Mayor VV Rajesh, who said the relocation idea should be considered positively. Rajesh cited rising temperatures linked to climate change and the difficulties of maintaining animals in the existing urban setting. He also pointed to concerns over waste, heat and noise pollution, besides the absence of some animals that were once major attractions.
A larger facility outside the city, designed around the animals’ natural environment and built to international standards, could also facilitate the conservation of rare species, Rajesh said.
Former Mayor VK Prasanth, however, opposed the proposal, alleging that commercial interests could be behind the plan. He described the zoo as a major green space and an important part of the city’s heritage.
Prasanth said the zoo, spread across 36 acres alongside a 19-acre garden, formed a rare combination of a zoological park and museum. He noted that the 167-year-old institution attracts around 12 lakh visitors annually and generates about ₹8 crore in revenue.
Responding to the comparison with Madison Square, he said Thiruvananthapuram residents would value the existing zoo and its heritage over such a redevelopment.
Thiruvananthapuram zoo is one of the oldest in the country. It houses more than 1,000 animals and birds belonging to 89 species. The zoo has 28 open enclosures and 43 other enclosures. The renowned music composer and king Swathi Thirunal was said to have played a part in its conception. JA Brown, then Director of the Trivandrum Observatory, and General William Cullen, then British Resident, were the men who turned the idea into a reality.
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(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar.)
