A ‘Wild Animals Research Centre’ will be soon set up by the Tamil Nadu government in the famous Vandalur zoo near here at a cost of Rs 27.13 crore.

The centre would provide all kind of information on wildlife and have a research laboratory and a large size laboratory on plant and meat eating animals.

The zoo, spread across 602 acres, is home to 1,541 animals and attracts over 20 lakh visitors every year.

In this regard, job opportunities would be created in the centre for two scientists, four junior level researchers and two veterinary doctors, an official release said.

The release said a butterfly park would also be established on 10 acres at Srirangam near Tiruchirapalli (home constituency of Jayalalithaa) at a cost of Rs 4.94 crore in view of rare species becoming extinct in the town.

The park would become a tourist attraction for the locality, it said.

To protect people in areas prone to animal movement, government allocated Rs 10.44 crore to install warning bells, dig wells, put up solar powered fence, moats, check dams and ponds.

The government has also planned to set up “Environment Clubs” in 100 schools of all 32 districts at a cost of Rs 80 lakh to create “environment awareness’ among students, the released added.

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