Jamshedpur, June 27: The recent escape of four gharials into the Subernarekha has prompted change in address of some inmates of the Tata Steel Zoological Park.

The zoo authorities have not only decided to shift the crocodile enclosure in the park to a new place, but have also decided to increase the height of the leopard nursery from eight to 14 feet.

A decision to this effect was taken in an especially convened meeting of Tata Steel Zoological Society today.

Attended by district wildlife warden A.T. Mishra and Tata Steel Zoological Society president Sanjeev Paul, the meeting was aimed at bringing about corrective measures in safeguarding the wild animals and reptiles from natural calamities, including floods.

M.S. Jain, the director of the zoo, said that Mishra had given some more suggestions. But, as there is a space constraint, it is not possible for them to comply with all the suggestions.

“We will shift the crocodile enclosure from the present place to a new spot somewhere inside the zoo. The work for constructing the new enclosure will begin once the spot is selected,” said Jain.

“Being located on a low land, the enclosures get inundated easily if the Subernarekha gets flooded, and the crocodiles escape. But once the enclosure is shifted to a highland in the zoo, they will not be able to flee,” said Jain.

“The height of the leopard nursery has to be increased so avoid any casualty during floods. Presently, the height of the nursery is just eight feet. But the flood water filled it considerably, threatening the life of the cubs and a female leopard,” he said.

Mishra, who is also the divisional forest officer of Dhalbhum, said that he had suggested removing the leopards’ enclosure, too, but later he surveyed the zoo and found that planting some trees close to the enclosure would solve the problem. He said that he had asked the zoo authorities to prepare two emergency enclosures that could house the animals during exigency.

Mishra told The Telegraph that as the Subernarekha is still swollen, it is impossible to track down the crocodiles from the river. He has asked the zoo authorities to create awareness among the local people about the crocodile’s presence near their village.

“The people should be made aware that venturing into the river at night is dangerous as crocodiles are somewhere around and may cause harm,” said the divisional forest officer of Dhalbhum.

He also claimed to have asked the zoo authorities to keep a 24-hour vigilance at the spot in Jadugora where a crocodile was spotted.