UNZOO THE ZOO – Vadodara’s Sayajibaug Zoo undergoing redevelopment where animals are no longer caged

A lot of us who visited the Sayajibaug Zoo in the last few months have noticed that the zoo is currently undergoing redevelopment. This redevelopment project – Sayajibaug Zoo 2.0 – is being designed with the theme of ‘Unzoo the Zoo’.

Based on the theme of ‘Unzoo the Zoo’, the redevelopment project of Vadodara’s pride, Sayajibaug Zoo, is said to be completed by March 2020. A zoo is park displaying living animals, birds in enclosures for people to come and see, bred and studied by zoologists and where animals are forced to human schedule. However, the concept of ‘unzoo’ is where the same living animals, birds and plants become a part of a shared ecosystem, immersed in an original or recreated natural habitat. A place where humans are able to learn and interact with the freed creatures, safely.

The project ‘Unzoo the Zoo’ focuses on creating a place that offers a holistic ‘zoo’ experience to the public whilst keeping in the mind the important needs and wants of animals and birds that are a part of the global conservation mission.

Massive enclosing nets are being brought in from over the seas that will enclose the homes of rare species of Indian, aquatic and exotic birds. This will give the public a chance to stand and view the bird amidst their naturally created habitat. Moreover, the public will also be able to view different species of animals such as the White Tiger and the Bengal Tiger.

Phase 1 of ‘Sayajibaug Zoo 2.0’ is being completed in approximately Rs. 22 crores. Vadodara Municipal Corporation has assigned the project to the firm – MAY Architects, headed by Principal Architect Babar Yahya. The designing team for the project include Hiten Chavda (Senior Architect), Rohit, Shazaman, Ajay, Nayan, Nishit, Ashfak, Saurabh, Lavi and Garbhit. The structural consultant for this project are Mahendra Chaturvedi, Narendra Patel and Jigar Rana.