The first phase of the Pinnawala open zoo in a 48-acre land adjacent to the famous Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Kegalle district will be opened to the public from March 2014.

The Pinnawala Zoological Gardens will consist of two zones – ‘Sri Lankan’ and ‘World’. The first stage, ‘Sri Lankan’ part constructed at a cost of Rs. 577 million will have native animals of Sri Lanka such as deer, leopards and alligators.

The open areas for these animals have already been constructed and the front area of the zoo will be completed in February. The zoo will have a special open section displaying the free-roaming Sri Lankan leopard.

The animals are to be brought to the new Pinnawala Zoo from the Dehiwala Zoo.

The second phase of the project will be constructed to house foreign species.

After long delays, the plan for the open zoo was accelerated when the Ministry of Economic Development took the Department of National Zoological Gardens under the Ministry.

Source : http://www.colombopage.com/archive_14A/Feb15_1392487788JR.php