Assam will soon have its second zoo with a team of experts inspecting a site at Rajnikhal in Cachar district on Wednesday to set up a proposed zoo-cum-wildlife-rehabilitation-centre in Barak Valley.

Sources said the team, which reached here from New Delhi on Tuesday and met forest officials, visited Rajnikhal on Wednesday morning in connection with preparation of a masterplan for the zoo.

Rajnikhal falls under Dholai constituency around 35km from here. The officials were former principal conservator of forests, Bengal, Brij Raj Sharma, Cachar district forest officer Sunny Deo Choudhury, head of the department of ecology and environmental science, Assam University, Parthankar Choudhury, and Dholai forest ranger Mujibur Rahman Choudhury, among others.

They checked the proposed site’s profile and discussed how to set up the zoo without destroying the flora around the site. The area of the proposed site is around 200 hectares.

The officials chalked out plans related to placement of cages, tiger and leopard safaris, different zones for herbivorous and carnivorous animals, conservation of birds of different species and accommodation of the zoo workers.

The team discussed ways to boost tourism and generate income through the mega project. It also checked aspects like road approach and soil terrain of the site, sources said. Another source in the department said the zoo-cum-wildlife rehabilitation centre would have facilities like veterinary health centre and food-processing unit.

Assam forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya, who has been pushing for setting up of the zoo, had inspected the site on September 3. Suklabaidya was unavailable for comment.