The otter enclosure that is undergoing renovation. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, March 8: Visitors to Patna zoo will soon be able to see turtles in their natural habitat as the authorities have decided to set up a dedicated enclosure for them.

The state government has provided Rs 11.67 lakh to execute the project. The proposed enclosure will come up adjacent to the existing wing of otters.

Zoo director Abhay Kumar told The Telegraph: “The 30ft-wide enclosure front will be covered with glass and the water pool, in which the turtles would be kept, will be separated from the visitors by a glass panel. This facility will allow the visitors to have a good look at the turtles’ movement.” Kumar added that over 12 varieties of turtles would be kept in the enclosure.

“The glass panel will be put in such a way that the whole enclosure will appear as one structure. We need segregation as different varieties of turtles are sometimes not friendly with each other,” he said.

Apart from the water pool, the proposed enclosure will also have sufficient space for the turtles to bask. In the background of the enclosure, there will also be an artificial hillock that would be accompanied by a waterfall.

The zoo authorities are also undertaking the renovation work of the otters’ enclosure, which after completion will have similar facilities as the enclosure for the turtles. A fund of Rs 6.94 lakh would be spent for the renovation.

The renovated enclosure will also have a 30ft-wide front covered with a 4ft-high glass panel through which the visitors would be able to see the otters in their natural habitat.

At present, there are three otters at Patna zoo. While there are two adults of both genders, the third is a young male that was recently brought to the zoo after being rescued from a nearby area.

Kumar said: “The existing enclosure was not providing a conducive environment for the adult pair to reproduce. The renovated enclosure will certainly address this problem.” The zoo authorities have also submitted a proposal to set up a cave-like structure outside the turtle and otter enclosures, which would be used by the visitors to look at the animals’ habitat. “We have submitted a proposal of Rs 6.9 lakh for this work. The proposal is likely to be approved soon,” said Kumar.

Kumar added that the structure would give the visitors the opportunity to have a better view of the enclosures. “They will be able to see the bright enclosures better from a darker place,” Kumar said.

He also said: “If the fund for the cave project comes in time, the new facilities will be opened to the people by the end of April.”