other completing one complete round along the periphery of the zoo along the visitor path. Since the visitor completes the whole revolution of the zoo during the visit, we have termed it as “Round Revolution Design” . The term ‘Round’ here refers to the complete one round of the zoo along the periphery. The word “Round” is not depicting the shape as the shape of the zoo boundary will depend on allotted space where the zoo needs to be built - The basic components of the round revolution design. This can be understood from the Figure 1.

Figure 1 Layout of Zoo as per Round and Revolution Zoo Master (Layout) Plan design

 

Majority of the infrastructure of zoo: exhibit area, indoor holding area, veterinary care unit/hospital should be placed  at the central part of the zoo. All the exhibits placed in such a way that only one face is visible to visitors during the sight-seeing. Visitor path is all along the periphery of the zoo boundary.  The interpretation center, toilet facility and drinking water etc to fall along this path. Minimum overlap of the visitor path and service path; making it consistent with the CZA guidelines. Movement of visitors in the centre region poses issue on separating visitor path from service path hence the visitor path has been placed along the boundary of the zoo in its entirety.

There are key advantages of this novel Master (Layout) Plan design over the conventional Master (Layout) Plan design of this Zoo. These key advantages are:

·        Animal well being centric: Since the enclosures are designed in such a way that rather than having several viewing sites available to visitiors all around exhibit, there is only one specific viewing area for visitors. This results  in creating a situation where the animal in the enclosure will receive less stress from the presence of humans when compared to the enclosures where the viewing sites are more than one. Hence this layout design ensures relatively low psychological stress on the animals. Its more animal well being centric because it prioritizes the psychological well being of the animal which is an integral part of animal housing [Mental health (n.d.)].Also, animal keeper can keep an eye on their concerned animals without getting mixed with visitors. Also, preventing viewing from multiple directions can allow the animal to move at its own will. In multiple viewing situations, animal  generally gets restricted at the centre of the exhibit as it avoids area near enclosure fencing. The situation gets severe where the size of exhibit is less than what it should be. In the Figure 2, the  Image 2  is depicting the  exhibit area in  proposed layout model and Image 1  is depiciting the exhibit areas in the conventional zoo model.

Figure 2 Difference in viewing after before (right) and after (left) the changes.

 

·        Visitor friendly: In, this zoo  layout model,the visitor does not need to spend time knowing the multiple directions in order to cover all the exhibits of the zoo. He or she can just begin from one point and cover the zoo at one go. This makes the experience of the visitor seamless and  more hassle free and at the same time it also saves the time of the visitor. We assume and predict that total time to complete the zoo visit will be one of the key factor for a visitor while deciding the visit to the zoo in these modern fast paced world. This effect also transcends to the effect on the visitor footfall and hence the revenue generation of the zoo.

·        Enables efficient zoo management: In this model, the enclosures, the night sheds and the zoo service paths have been designed in such a way that it enables the least overlap between the visitor path and the service path. This arrangement and design helps the zoo staff personnel to carry out their various duties like transportation, construction, emergency treatment and animal upkeep in a seamless manner which further translates into increased efficiency in zoo management. Also, separated service path and visitor path will ensure visitor safety

 

 

·        Better space utilization: When the enclosures in a novel Master (Layout) Plan are scattered, then it gives rise to spaces that could not be used for any purpose. But when the exhibits are stacked together then such non useful spaces are not created and instead a joint larger space is created. This can be seen in the pictorial representation in the Figure 3 where the areas in white are spaces available. If these grey boxes are stacked along the periphery of the given area, a larger space is created as seen in the Image 1 when compared to  the multiple small spaces created in the Image 2 . Larger space provides more options to the architect in creating structures to the architect than the availability of small scattered spaces .

Figure 3 Depicting free space utilization.

 

3.    APPLICATION OF THIS MODEL AT DNP, GOPALPUR

This novel design of novel Master (Layout) Plan has been applied in preparing the new Master (Layout) Plan at Dhauladhar Nature Park ( a small zoological park), Himachal Pradesh Forest Department. This Master (Layout) Plan has been prepared and sent to the CZA for the approval. The image in Appendix-A shows the proposed master plan of the DNP Gopalpur zoological park . The line in red is the visitor path along the periphery of the DNP Gopalpur zoo. Other legends are also depicted in the digital image of the Master Plan prepared.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We extend our gratitude and  thank IFS  Upasna Patial,   Chief Conservator of Forests Willife ( HQ Dharmashala) and IFS Rahul Rohane, DCF ( Wildlife ) , Hamirpur for their constant support and encourangement to explore our research ideas. In addition to this , we  would like to thank Range office staff of DNP Gopalpur namely  Sh. Surjeet Pathania ( Sr Fgd) , Sh. Reetu Patial ( Fgd )  , Sh, Keval Krishan ( Fgd)  and all other members of the staff for assisting us in carrying out our research work. We are thankful to our peers for their valuable suggestions as well. This would not have been  possible without the ever supporting family members.

 

REFERENCES

Mental health (n.d.) and well beingin  animals by David John Stepherdson ( Retd), Oregon zoo and Kathy Carlstead, Smithsonian institution.

Zoos in India (2014), Legislation, policy, guidelines and strategy .