By Ifham Nizam 

The Small Animal Zone, Animal Conservation and Migratory Birds Rescue Centre coming under the purview of the second part of Hambantota Ridiyagama Safari Park will be opened today at 10.00 a.m.

 The second zone is scheduled to be opened by   Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, and Secretary to the Ministry, Mrs. Chandra Herath, Director General of Wildlife, Chandana Suriyabandara, and the Director General of the National Zoological Department will also participate in the event.

 An area of around 500 acres has been allocated for the Ridiyagama Safari Park and 13 zones have been set up for different types of animals. At present, about 200 acres of it has been developed for administrative buildings, animal hospital, visitor facilities, shops, parking lots, etc., and several animal zones have been completed.

These animal zones are the African lion zone which is in an area of about 35 acres, the herbivorous animals’ zone which is spread over an area of 80 acres and the Asian elephant zone which covers 54 acres and, the Bengal tiger zone.

The second part scheduled to be opened today (04) consists three zones. There is a zone for small herbivorous animals Hog Deer,  Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Jungle  Rat, etc. and a zone for children to have fun with pets has also been built in this new section.

An animal breeding conservation centre has also been built but it is is not open to visitors.

Arrangements have been made to open a special rescue centre for migratory birds here.

According to the National Zoological Department, priority has been given to visitors for activities such as feeding tame animals and taking photographs with them.