Eco-Fun Trip of Home of Hope Children to Vandalur Zoo...a day with Nature's best creations

A day planned to take 30+ children to Vandalur Zoo as a joint project between Rotary Club of Madras South and Inner Wheel Club of Madras South was successfully executed with support from Volunteers of Sevai Karangal.

Children reached the venue by sharp 9 am on 2 Feb 2014, along with the founder of Home of Hope Mr Dominic and other volunteers lead by Thilak, Raghu, and Uma.  We were joined by Nandan, Padmasree, Devi, Sasirekha and Vadivel along with Sudhir Oberoi and his wife Lovely Oberoi.  The crowds were just starting to come in and we were lucky to get two carts to go around the 1400 acres of green lush grounds with variety of animals to watch.  The digital boards exhibition at the entrance was a sure welcoming thing for children to create the enthusiasm to start with. After a fulfilling breakfast, children enjoyed the ride into the forest.  Watching various species of birds and animals, including tigers, white tigers, lions, leopard, bears, elephants, giraffe, zebras, gorillas, reptiles, birds and turtles and many more, children were truly excited.   After the beautiful ride and walk for close to 2 hours, kids got into a Lion Safari and Deer Safari and they enjoyed watching Lions and Lionesses closely.   Animals were kind enough to pose for our pictures as well.

Then kids were let to play in the playground with swings, ladders and trees for close to an hour before they headed to a happy meal organised by volunteers.  Children expressed their gratitude and thanks for a wonderful day to us and extended the same to Rotary Club of Madras South and Inner Wheel Club of Madras South being their sponsors for the day.  They also hugged Thilak for organising so well, that we never felt tired of walking around or being on rides on a sunny day.

After providing them with a can of cool drinks, children helped us clean the place we used proving that they are very disciplined and taught to be waste warriors.. and then planned our way back to the city with full of memories and loads of happiness.   Thanks to the last minute volunteers who jumped into action to help us manage the day and Thanks to Rotary and Inner Wheel for sponsoring such a beautiful project.   We spent close to 6 hours together and children invited us to their Home of Hope in Tiruninravur.  Glad we were able to compensate to these children who missed to be part of our Malazhalai Oli project due to logistics constraints.  

Pictures of the day:  @Vandalur Zoo 2.2.2014, with Home of Hope Children

HOH children after breakfast ready for the zoo

Thilak Explaining the digital boards info in the Museum

Seal with Zeal posing for us

Wonderful watching White Tigers...They were really looking Royal

Curios kids at the Reptiles zones

We saw the elephants playing

Lion tailed ancestor

Team of volunteers who jumped into action with just one call

Happy Kids at the end of the rides and play area

Food at the end of a tiring day....delicious and homely food

Biding the zoo a happy farewell..