Warangal: The Kakatiya Zoological Park (KZP) in Warangal saw a surge in footfall after the arrival of a male white tiger named Sharan. The 13-year-old tiger, recently brought from Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad, has quickly become a star attraction, drawing visitors from across the tri-cities of Hanamkonda, Kazipet, and Warangal.
Sharan joins two Royal Bengal tigers already housed at the zoo: Shankar, a 10-year-old male, and Kareena, a 15-year-old female, who were introduced in January. All three tigers now reside in a newly constructed, spacious enclosure built at a cost of Rs 70 lakh sanctioned by the state government.
Zoo Park in-charge and forest range officer B. Mayuri told Deccan Chronicle that the new enclosure is one of the largest among zoos in the state. Designed for the comfort and well-being of the tigers, it includes features such as water heaters for colder months. The enclosure stands 18 feet tall and is 224 metres wide, with adequate space to accommodate more tigers in the future.
“We have taken great care to ensure the well-being of all our tigers,” said Mayuri. “To avoid conflicts, the tigers are not released into the display area at the same time. The enclosure has been thoughtfully designed with partitions, including display zones and day-crawl areas. The new white tiger, Sharan, has been a tremendous success and is especially popular among families and animal lovers.”
Meanwhile, forest minister Konda Surekha, who officially introduced Sharan to the public, announced ambitious plans to develop the park to the standards of Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad. The government has already sanctioned Rs 1 crore for a new underground drainage system, while an additional ₹4.25 crore has been approved from the ‘Haritha Nidhi’ fund for other development projects at the zoo.
The minister also revealed that a female white tiger, a lion, and other animals will soon be added to the zoo’s collection. She appealed to animal lovers to support the zoo in its efforts to care for its wildlife. The state government is hopeful that the Centre will soon approve a proposal to upgrade KZP, currently classified as a medium-sized zoo.
Additionally, minister Surekha launched digital initiatives to enhance the visitor experience. These include QR codes for each animal enclosure, allowing visitors to access information via their smartphones, and a chatbot to answer queries and provide guidance.
