Citizens of Udaipur and environment activists are uniting on social network site Facebook to save the future of the only zoo (one of the five oldest zoos of India) and botanical garden in Udaipur- Gulab Bagh, which has been subject of alleged negligence by Udaipur administration from quite some time.

The alarming situation arose when Udaipur Municipal Corporation gave indications of turning the oxygen zone of Udaipur into an amusement park (like Appu Ghar in Delhi). This has raised a great concern amongst environmentalists, social activists and naturalists who have strongly condemned the idea. Sajjan Niwas Garden, popularly known as Gulab Bagh, has been amply damaged by constructing government offices. Now it is high time not to further the damage of the eco-system of this 136 year old garden.

Save Gulab Bagh, the Facebook page, was created just 48 hours ago but has already started attracting a large set of people to the campaign.

Dr. Raza H. Tehsin, veteran wildlife enthusiast and a noted environmentalist, has strongly opposed Municipal Corporation’s suggestion. He said, “Making amusement park at Gulab Bagh is an attempt to destroy the Lung of the City which is repository of many rare plant varieties that have medicinal values and need protection as per criteria of IUCN Red Data Species and Wildlife Protection Act of India.”

According to Dr. Tehsin, land mafias are continuously trying to seize the 136 year old botanical garden and zoo.

“Gulab Bagh is being negatively transformed in the name of developing tourism. Establishing Appu Ghar type of recreational house will completely destroy the remaining history,” said Tehsin.

Dr. Tehsin is struggling to save Gulab Bagh since 1977 by regularly contributing in media, educating other environmentalist and contacting administration. He says, “The Gulab Bagh zoo is also threatened by plans of the Forest Department to shift it to the biological park being built in Sajjangarh and to convert the zoo into an aviary.

The zoo has not only been an integral part of growing up of every child in Udaipur, but also generations of wild animal species have been protected, bred and released in Udaipur jungles regularly. The stocks of animals bred in the zoo have saved many species from extinction in Udaipur forests.”

Appealing to the citizens of Udaipur, Dr. Tehsin said that there should be a mass remonstration and people should unite to save the century old garden that houses some of the most exotic flora, provides shelter to the birds and wild animals and attracts thousands of people, both tourists and locals every year.