Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Satheesan Proposes Moving Thiruvananthapuram Zoo to Forest Area
V D Satheesan proposed relocating Thiruvananthapuram Zoo to Neyyar or another forest area.
He said keeping animals in a city zoo amounted to cruelty because they belong in natural habitats.
Satheesan described the relocation as his dream project and suggested upgrading the zoo to international standards.
He proposed converting the existing 30-acre site into a public space modeled on Madison Square.
Established in 1859, the zoo houses 1,025 animals across 98 species and attracts about 14 lakh visitors annually.
- Who
- V D Satheesan proposed the relocation.
- What
- He suggested moving Thiruvananthapuram Zoo to Neyyar or another forest area and redeveloping the existing site as a public space.
- When
- The proposal was reported on September 16; the report also described the event as taking place on a Wednesday.
- Where
- Satheesan made the proposal during the inauguration of the ‘Reimagining Keralam’ programme in Thiruvananthapuram.
- Why
- He said animals should be closer to their natural habitats and that keeping them in a city zoo amounted to cruelty.
- Proposed location
- Neyyar or another forest area
- Existing zoo site
- Thiruvananthapuram; approximately 30 acres
- Established
- 1859
- Animals
- 1,025 animals belonging to 98 species
- Annual visitors
- Approximately 14 lakh
- Existing biodiversity
- A natural lake, wooded landscapes, 93 free-roaming bird species and more than 100 plant species
- Future use proposed
- A public space modeled on Madison Square