A Large number and variety of new guests are expected at the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Garden in the days to come.

Prompting zoo authorities to double the number of animals that live there today is the draft of the budget, which has earmarked Rs 38.57 crore for the development of the gardens and the zoo maintained by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

There are 305 animals, birds and reptiles at the zoo in Katraj. With the phase-wise expansion, the number of inmates is expected to touch 750. To begin with, the PMC is expecting an eight-feet-long rock python and a pair of white peacocks.

Earlier, the authorities had declared they would create a separate reptile sanctuary on the sprawling 165 acres of land that is the zoo.

Confirming the expansion plans, Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Garden Director Kazveen Umrigar said a formal approval will be required from the Central Zoo Authority, to whom the proposal has already been sent.

PMC Garden Superinten-dent Bhanudas Mane said the zoo was already undergoing expansion with a funding of Rs 1 crore from the Centre every year.u00a0 "Wild animals are being brought here on exchange basis as they are not allowed to be sold or purchased," he said. "The reptile sanctuary and zoo expansion can be expected to be complete in 2011, and Rs 5 crore has been kept aside for the purpose."