Zoo Authority of Tamil Nadu was constituted on 03-12-2004 for a better and effective management of Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur and Childrens’ Park, Guindy. The Governing Board of Zoo Authority of Tamil Nadu has been reconstituted as mentioned below on 06-03-2013 to administer the Zoological Parks more efficiently
| 1 | Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu | Chairperson |
| 2 | Hon’ble Minister for Forests | Vice-Chairperson |
| 3 | The Secretary to Government, Environment and Forests Department | Member |
| 4 | The Secretary to Government, Finance Department | Member |
| 5 | The Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry Department | Member |
| 6 | The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Tamil Nadu | Member |
| 7 | The Chief Wildlife Warden, Tamil Nadu | Member |
| 8 | The Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai | Member |
| 9 | The Director, Department of Environment | Member |
| 10 | The Commissioner, Tourism Department | Member |
| 11 | The Director, Arignar Anna Zoological Park | Member Secretary |
The following Zoological Parks are under the ambit of Zoo Authority of Tamil Nadu:
- Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur
- Children’s Park, Guindy
- Kurumbapatti Zoological Park, Salem
- Amirdhi Mini Zoo, Amirdhi, Vellore.
- Trichy Zoo, Thiruchirapalli
1.Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur:
- Opened to the public on 24-07-1985 by the then Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Bharat Ratna Dr.M.G.Ramachandran
- Spread over 602 hectares area
- Houses 1500 animals belonging to 160 species
- Annual footfalls: 23 lakhs visitors
- Average annual income : Rs.8 crores
- Average income from animal adoption charges: Rs.4 lakhs per annum
- Full-fledged Veterinary Hospital with three vets round the clock.
- Acts as co-ordinating zoo for Conservation and breeding of Lion tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur and Participating zoo for Indian gaur, Royal Bengal tiger, wild dog, king cobra and Malabar giant squirrel.
2.Children's Park, Guindy:
- Opened to the public in 1959
- Located within the Guindy National Park, which is the only National Park in the country situated within the heart of a city.
- Spreads over 9 hectares area
- Housing 55 species and 490 individuals wild dog, barking deer, hog deer, marsh crocodile, sarus crane etc.
- Annual footfalls: 9 lakhs visitors
3.Kurumbapatti Zoological Park, Salem:
- Opened to the public in 1981
- Spreads over 11.07 hectares area
- Housing Spotted deer, Sambar deer, star tortoise, peafowl etc. are on display
- Annual footfalls:1 lakh visitors
4.Amirdhi Zoo, Amirdhi:
- Opened to the public in 1967
- Spreads over 10 hectares area
- Housing Spotted deer, jackal, porcupine, birds, crocodiles etc. are on display.
- Annual footfalls:1,40,000
5.Trichy Zoo, Thiruchirapalli:
- Formative stage
- Spreads over 62 hectares area
Details of Captive Elephant available in Tamil Nadu as on 31.01.2017
| Sl. No | Control | Number |
| 1 | Temple Elephants | 39 |
| 2 | Private Elephants | 38 |
| 3 | Forest Department Camp Elephants | 45 |
| 4 | Zoo Elephants | 5 |
| 5. | Circus | 6 |
| Total | 133 |
Total Visitors -
from 01 - 04 - 2017 / Last Update On 25 - 04 - 2022