Reliance plans world’s largest zoo, facility set to come up in Gujarat’s Jamnagar

A pet project of Anant Ambani, the youngest son of the Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) chairman Mukesh Ambani will possibly put Gujarat on the map of the world’s biggest zoos.

RIL will build what it claims to be the world’s largest zoo in Gujarat’s Jamnagar, a top company executive confirmed to the Times of India on Saturday,.

The zoo will house close to 100 different species of animals, birds, and reptiles not just native to India – but from across the world, says the report.

It will come up on the 280 acres of land close to the company’s refinery project at Moti Khavdi near Jamnagar, the world’s largest oil refinery project where RIL also operates its petrochemicals plant.

The zoo will likely open to the public after work is completed in the following two years if there are no more delays in the project such as those due to COVID-19 this year, the RIL executive told TOI.

The name of the zoo will be “Greens Zoological, Rescue & Rehabilitation Kingdom”. Parimal Nathwani, the RIL Director for Corporate Affairs – who often posts wildlife and conservation-related posts on his Twitter handle – told TOI, reportedly.

WORLD’S BIGGEST ZOOS:

1. South Africa’s National Zoological Gardens Of Africa – With Natural Habitats is known for its rich wildlife located in a natural habitat, with a land area of about 210 acres in Pretoria.

2. UK’s London Zoo is not just among the world’s biggest zoos it is the world’s oldest scientific zoo established in 1828, exclusively for scientific research. It accommodates 16,000 animals in just 36 acres of land.

3. US’s San Diego zoo – located in California, is one of the rare zoos to accommodate and breed giant panda. Considered one of the best and largest zoos in the world, it is spread over a total land area of approximately 100 acres.