Kurumbapatti Zoological Park

Kurumbapatti Zoological Park sits at the base of the Shevaroy Hills foothills about 10 km from Salem, making it a convenient half-day trip. It is the second largest zoo in Tamil Nadu after Arignar Anna Zoo in Chennai, with a collection that includes tigers, leopards, bears, and a range of deer and antelope species native to the subcontinent.

The grounds are spacious and reasonably green. The zoo is best visited on weekdays to avoid weekend crowds from Salem. The drive up passes through agricultural land with good views of the hills above. Combined with a trip to Yercaud, it makes a full day out of the city.

things to do sight wildlife
A story
Kurumbapatti is one of Tamil Nadu's few zoos to maintain a breeding programme for the Indian star tortoise, a species heavily affected by the illegal pet trade. The zoo is also home to white tigers — a genetic variant rather than a separate subspecies — which draw most of the visitor attention, leaving the more interesting but less photogenic animals in relative quiet.