Mysore/Mysuru, April 23 -- As the State gears up for the first phase of Lok Sabha (LS) elections on Apr. 26 (Friday), Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens (Mysuru Zoo) and Karanji Lake Nature Park in city will be closed.

To bolster urban voter turnout, it's noted that historically, many urban residents opt for short vacations coinciding with polling days, typically weekends. Closing tourist attractions aims to encourage citizens to prioritise their civic duty on election day.

However, both the Zoo and Karanji Lake Nature Park open on April 30 (Tuesday, a weekly holiday), welcoming tourists and visitors during the summer holidays, as stated in a press release by the Zoo Executive Director.

Meanwhile, authorities responsible for overseei...