Mangaluru : Pilikula Biological Park to hike entry fee by Rs 10 for adults. The new rate applicable from August 1 will see adults above 12-years pay Rs 60, while there is no change in rates for children in the age-group of three to 12-years which is still pegged at Rs 20. Entry to children below three-years has been free ever since the biological park formally started operating at Moodushedde in 2004.

Managed by Dr Shivaram Karantha Pilkula Nisargadhama, a society headed by the DC, the park spread across 370 acres and home to 1200 animals spread across 120 species that are endemic to the Western Ghats, is largely dependent on gate collection for its running. Attracting daily footfall of up to 1000 visitors during the weekdays and one that is double this number during the weekends, the park nets an average of Rs 1 crore by way of gate collections per annum.

“The gate collections help us just about break even with our feeding cost which hovers slightly above the gate collection receipts,” avers H J Bhandary, director of the park. The marginal hike in entry fee, approved by the society was supposed to be implemented two months ago, but will come in to effect from August 1,  Rs 5 bulk discount for educational trips conducted by educational institutions for students will remain in vogue.

Pointing that biological park is the only entity in the Nisargadhama not to receive any grant from the government for its maintenance, Bhandary said the park categorized as one of the 14 large zoos in the country by Central Zoo Authority also banks on animal adoption scheme and donors to help it function effectively. Animal adoption ranges from Rs 5000 to Rs 4-lakh per annum. But the park on many occasions manages with the amount given by the donor, he adds.