Soon, restaurant for vultures, eagles and crows at Kanpur zoo!
KANPUR: In a first of its kind initiative in the country, Kanpur Zoological Park (Zoo) would develop an open ‘Raptor Restaurant’ with twin objectives of conserving the dying species of vulture, eagle, kites and crows besides utilising the leftover meat.
The restaurant would be developed by the first week of October with a total budget outlay of ₹15,000 in the jungle safari of the zoo. Senior zoo veterinarian doctor RK Singh said the ‘Raptors Restaurant’ would be made over a cemented platform of 20 by 22 feet where leftover meat would be put everyday for crows, kites, eagles and vultures to feast upon.
In addition, a one feet deep pond of 10 by 10 feet would also be constructed where the raptors could take a bath after consuming the meat. “The pond will cater to the raptors’ natural habit of having a bath after eating rotten and stale meat. They bathe so that no infectious piece of meat remains on their body,” said Dr Singh.
Kanpur zoo gives about 170 to 190 kilogrammes of meat every day to carnivores. About 30 kg of bones and 40 of meat is left over and thrown at different places from where the contractor lifts it once a week.
If the leftover meat and bones are collected and put in an isolated place then the raptors would start coming for consuming it. Besides, if they found isolated place safe they would also start making their nest in the safari area for breeding. “With these two ideas we have decided to create the raptors restaurant which will of course be free from GST,” Dr Singh said.
“The first visitor to the restaurant would be the common crows and later kites and eagles would also get attracted towards it. The crowd of these raptors would attract the vultures and our mission to conserve the dying species would be achieved,” he added.