Arignar Anna Zooligical Park or AAZP for short also goes by the name Vandalur Zoo. Located as the latter name suggests, in Vandalur, Chennai, which forms part of the state of Tamil Nadu in India, this zoological garden is considered to be the largest zoo in the country, in terms of sheer size; Arignar Anna Zoological Park covers over one thousand and three hundred acres of land. When it was still situated at its former location, this zoo was renowned as the first public zoo in all of India.
Vandalur Zoo holds an affiliation with the CZA or Central Zoo Authority of India and is the second most important wildlife sanctuary in the state, the foremost being Mudumalai National Park. It contains over two thousand and five hundred plant and animal species within its borders. The zoos denizens fall under a vast range of categories in the animal kingdom. There are several species of mammals, reptiles, insects, amphibians, fishes and birds in the park, and quite a few of them are endangered too. Arignar Anna Zoological Park also houses around one hundred and thirty eight species of plants. Examples of some of the plant life you can find here are eucalyptus plants and cashew trees.
For those thinking about visiting the park, if you reside in one of the Chennai airport hotels such as that by the Turyaa Hotels & Resorts chain, you can make a day trip here as it will be under an hour’s drive away.
Once you get to the park, you are likely to see a whole host of animals ranging from hippopotami, camels and llamas, to bears, tigers and vultures. The park also hosts over fifty butterfly varieties. If you’re travelling with children, this is sure to be a favourite exhibit as they will be able to spot dozens of different kinds of butterflies, all displaying a wonderful mix of colorations and wing shapes.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+