Everyday, a large number of people along with their kids visit the zoo.

The Hill District Council (RHDC) built the mini-zoo-cum botanical garden on 33 acres of government land in the old hatchery area in the hill town about one year ago.

RHDC spent Tk 30 lakh for by planting different kinds of saplings and constructing the mini-zoo-cum botanical garden under a project titled 'Development of Botanical Garden'. More funds will be spent to finish the remaining work of the zoo, the RHDC authorities said. The RHDC authorities planted 29,000 saplings including mehgani, amolaki, olive, mango and jackfruit, RHDC sources said.

At present, there are four species of wildlife in the zoo. These are: male beer, four maya deer, two monkeys (gangkullya bandar) and a jungle cock.

Although the recreation facilities are limited, yet a large number of visitors flock the zoo everyday. Sometimes, during government holidays, the numbers of visitors rose sharply, zoo authorities said.

'Wildlife is very limited in our zoo but a large number of visitors throng here everyday, said Kamashya Chakma, caretakers of the zoo .

More animal sheds including shed for birds will be constructed very soon to rear different species of forest birds to make the zoo more attractive, said Ananda Chakma, an official of the RHDC.

At present, around Tk 5,000 are being spent to feed the animals in the zoo, he said. On an average, Tk 120 is needed to feed an animal daily. The RHDC authorities also dug three fish ponds in the surroundings, he added.

Surya Chakma, Monwara Begum and many other visitors said the zoo has become a centre for people's recreation.