IMPHAL October 2: The 39th Zoo Foundation Day Celebration 2015 was held at Manipur Zoological Garden Iroisemba, Imphal today.
The function was hosted by Chief Wildlife Warden K Angami and graced by Commerce & Industries, Sericulture and Veterinary & Animal Husbandry minister Govindas Konthoujam as the chief guest along with Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Bala Prasad as the president.
The chief guest in his address highlighted the potential of tapping the existing flora and fauna resources of the State as a tourist attraction.
He stretched on the possibilities like bird watching promotions and packaging the exotic fragrance of our forest products among others.
He said, `Rare species of our Zoo makes us visible among the Indian Zoos. We should promote and market such beauty for economic returns as part of the larger tourism potential.`
He emphasized on the value of the rare Sangai Deer and said it can increase tourist inflow.
`Several migratory birds in Loktak could also woo the bird watching groups` he said.
According to Bala Prasad, there are 47 varieties of animals, birds and reptiles in the Imphal Zoo.
He added enthusiastically that the Sangai deer which was once declared extinct has a total population of 221 in the State now.
`Wildlife based tourism has a huge potential in Manipur`™ he said.
The wildlife week which started today will continue till October 8 and intends to create awareness about the importance of wildlife and conserving it especially among school children, he said.
Meanwhile, it may be mentioned that the last stretch of road that leads to the only Zoological garden of the State is devoid of any blacktopping and rattles in rough pot holes clearly highlighting the lack of coordination and communication of the PWD with other departments.