Animals at the Pets’ Park in Tata Steel Zoological Park. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, April 5: Adding to the ambience and attraction of the Tata Steel Zoological Park is its new pets’ corner, inaugurated today as the Pets Park. The corner will have rabbits, guinea pigs and guinea fowls and has been specially designed for children.

“It always helps the children to learn about animals by actually touching them,” said M.S. Jain, director of the zoo.

“It is all so exciting. This guinea pig is so beautiful,” exclaimed Megha Singh, a junior school student who had come to watch the animals from close quarters.

Built at an estimated cost of Rs 5.5 lakh, low barriers have been built all around to encourage healthy interaction between children and the animals. The enclosure, which began to be constructed towards the end of 2006, has been completed in a record time, said the authorities.

“Here, the temperature is just suited for the requirement of the animals,” said Manik Palit, the veterinary doctor.

Earlier, too, the zoo authorities had tried to bring the animals closer to the children by taking the animals to different schools. Overwhelmed by the popularity of that project, the officials thought of introducing this small corner.

Next in line is a toy train. “We hope to put it on a trial run tomorrow,” added Jain.