Biodiversity is one conspicuous factor that makes the city of Chennai popular. Leave aside the populace and the culture, there are several places that are inhabited by hundreds of animal and bird species. These places feature some of the best picnic spots in the city. Animal reserves and parks like Snake Park, Guindy National Park and Anna Zoological Park highlights the rich bio diversity for which the place has earned a great reputation.

Wildlife reserves like the already ones mentioned provide the breeding grounds for some rare and protected species. Anna Zooligical Park and Guindy National Park, especially, are great places to find woodland animals and rare bird species. Some of the many species found at these places include Indian Antelope (Black Buck), Elephant, Spotted Deer, Indian Civet, Hedgehog, Pangolin, Tiger, Lion, Panther, Jaguar, Elephants, Giraffes, Camels, Barking Deer, Sambar, Blackbuck, Nilgai, Sangai, Hog Deer, Wolf, Jackal, Hyena, Llama, Otter, Lion-tailed Macaque, Baboon, Hanuman Langur and Leaf-capped Langur, etc. Not all of these animals roam in the wilderness of the parks. Many of these species are held in captivity. The bird species outnumber that of animal and reptile species. There are hundreds of migratory bird species and resident ones. Reptiles featuring some rare Indian snakes and crocodiles are also characteristic of the place. Chennai is one good place to house it all.

Guindy National Park

Location
The Guindy National Park is stretched in the city premises of Chennai. The park is the only of its kind to be located within the city suburbs. Guindy National Park lies in the southern outskirts of Chennai city, at a place called Adyar. The park is situated close to the Governor's House (Raj Bhavan).

Overview
The Guindy National Park used to be a game reserve till 1817. The place was bought by a British citizen named Gilbert Rodericks who died in the year 1817. Rodericks could not pay his debts while he was alive and had his property mortgaged. In the year 1821, the Government of Madras purchased the park lands. The next development came in the year 1947 when the place got established as the Governor's Residence. The park area was handed over to the Tamil Nadu Forest Department which at that time constituted 400 hectares. The nearby area was allocated to IIT(1961), Guru Nanak Educational Society (1970), Rajaji Memorial (1974), Kamaraj Memorial (1975) and Cancer Institute (1977). The current park area stands close to 280 hectares.

Guindy Park happens to be the smallest and the only park within the city suburbs of India. The park features an amazing bio diversity. The flora and fauna contained in the park make it one of the best tourist destinations in Chennai city. The park is inhabited by more than 20 species of trees, about 14 varieties of shrubs and more than 14 species of woodland mammals.The place also houses many species of rare birds and amphibians. The dry deciduous forests of Guindy are lined with tree species like Amona Squamosa, Atlanta Monophylla, Feronia Limonia and Azadirachta India. The popular park animals include species like Indian Antelope (Black Buck), Elephant, Spotted Deer, Indian Civet, Jungle Cat, Hedgehog, Pangolin and Jackal. Some rare bird species found in the park include Black Winged Kite, Honey Buzzard, Pariah Kite. The park is also home to many reptile and amphibian species.
Guindy Railway Station and the Guindy Bus Stop is located in the vicinity, some three kilometres away and towards the north-west of the park. Both of them provide easy accessibility to the park.

Arignar Anna Zoological Park
The zoo is open on all days except Tuesdays. The daily visiting hours are from 8.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.
The key features of the park include the wild animal species (more than 170 species), Lion Safari, Elephant Rides and Battery Operated Vehicle Rides.

The Arignar Anna Zoological Park is located in the metropolitan area of Chennai city. The zoological park is considered as one of the most modern zoos of India and South East Asia by large. The zoo is situated in the Vandalur area of the Kanchipuram district, which is 35 kms from the Chennai city.

It was in the year 1855 that the first zoo in India was established. The zoo was grounded in the Chennai central and later on shifted to the southern metropolitan area called Vandalur Reserved Forests (year 1979). The zoo was opened to public in the year 1985. The zoo is spread well over 510 hectares of land and is one of the biggest in South East Asia. Inside the zoo more than 170 species of animals roam freely on man made island enclosures. The camouflaged walls and simulated natural environment is almost imperceptible to the animal species inhabiting the park. The dry deciduous forests of Vandalur make up the best breeding place for the animals. With the latest development like inception of Jurrasic Park, Nocturnal section, Reptile section and aquarium has provided a new dimension to the place.

The animal species inhabiting the park include species like Tiger, Lion, Panther, Jaguar, Elephants, Giraffes, Camels, Barking Deer, Sambar, Blackbuck, Nilgai, Sangai, Hog Deer, Wolf, Jackal, Hyena, Llama, Otter, Lion-tailed Macaque, Baboon, Hanuman Langur and Leaf-capped Langur, etc. The zoo also maintains a library with great collection of wildlife related books and information.

The train is the most convenient way of reaching the place. The railway station of Vandalur is about a kilometre away from the zoo.
Chennai Airport is the nearest airport and is some 18 kms away.