Introduction

Located on Chennai’s GST road, the Arignar Zoological Park offers great wildlife viewing opportunities, not to mention a cool respite from the summer heat. Sprawled over 602 hectare of lush greenery, the zoological park is home to over 46 endangered species that once roamed the jungles of Western Ghats. Special features of the zoo include an Asiatic Lion enclosure, which can be explored on a 15-minute lion safari, this in addition to the Nocturnal Animals House, Reptile House, Aviary, Pre-historic Animal Park, Zoo school and a lake. The lake opens up bird-watching opportunities, what with migratory birds such as storks, ibis, herons and egrets visiting in winter months.

Once covered with scrub forests and weeds, the land for the open-zoo has been transformed into a lush evergreen forest. Today it is a habitat of hundreds of species of flora including cashew and eucalyptus tress, besides a variety of fauna and avian species.

Here you can view some rare and exotic species such as the Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, leopard, Nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaque, capped langur, barking deer, hog deer, sangai, and marsh crocodile among others. Don’t miss out the habitats of the rarely-found water monitor lizard (the second largest monitor lizard) and Starred Tortoise (owing to the intricate patterns on its shell).

While here, visitors can also opt for a lion safari in a covered vehicle, and view these big cats from close quarters. You can also take up deer and gaur safaris. A bison safari and a multi-specie herbivore park are on the anvil.

Bird watching enthusiasts are recommended a trip to the aviary modeled on popular bird sanctuaries in the state. Although the landscape has been created to resemble the natural habitat of birds, a blue net high above restricts their flight to the outer areas. Flamingos, sea gulls, teals, storks, herons and variety of other species have made it their home.

Before concluding your tour, browse the Bio-Center which houses birds, amphibians, butterflies and reptiles, the Nocturnal Animals House, Reptile House, and the crocodile enclosure. The zoo also has a Pre-historic Animal Park, where life-size models of pre-historic animals including dinosaurs are on display. Interestingly, the Otteri Lake which receives winged visitors of the like of storks, ibis, herons and egrets between October and December, falls within the confines of the zoo.

Special Attributes

The park is home to the Asiatic lion and the rare water monitor lizard.

Nuisance

The site is very peaceful and free of irritants.

Dressing restrictions

Dress in whatever you find comfortable.

Connectivity

Cars, Buses, Auto-rickshaws, Metro trains

Enjoyed by

Kids, wildlife and bird-watching enthusiasts

Exposure

You will be walking under the open sky mostly, though you can stop to take rest under a shady tree.

Avoidable Season

Open through the year

Facilities

Battery-operated road trains or trolleys are available for exploring the park. Adult: 12 INR; Child: 7 INR. You can also hire the services of a nature guide.

Things Not Allowed

No such restriction

Tip

Do not feed the animals.

Type of site

Zoological Park