Gandhinagar: State forest and environment minister Mulu Bera informed the state assembly on Thursday that a desert-themed zoo is set to be developed near Deesa in Banaskantha district. The proposed facility will primarily house animals adapted to arid climatic conditions.

Bera also announced that Indroda Park in Gandhinagar will receive new enclosures for wild animals, while a caracal breeding centre will be established in Kutch. It is learned that the upcoming zoo near Deesa will feature species such as sloth bears, cheetahs, wild asses, and the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), though approval from the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI) is still pending. Additionally, Indroda Park is expected to add at least six new enclosures for lions, wolves, and sloth bears.

Speaking in the assembly, Bera stated, “We are working on developing Asia’s first desert-themed zoo near Deesa. A caracal conservation and breeding centre will be set up in Kutch with an allocation of ₹5 crore in the current budget.”

Furthermore, highlighting Gujarat’s leadership in mangrove afforestation, Bera said, “In the current fiscal, Gujarat has emerged as the number one state in India by planting mangroves over 11,930 hectares across Sir Creek, Kori Creek, and Padala Bet in Kutch. Now, we are planning to plant mangroves over 15,000 hectares under the MISHTI scheme.”

Under the MISHTI programme, launched in 2023, the Centre aimed to cover 540 sq km in five years, whereas Gujarat has already restored 190 sq km of mangroves within two years. DeshGujarat