Hyderabad zoo enhances visitors’ experience with new animals, safari upgrade

Among the newest zoo residents are Chinkara, also known as the Indian gazelle, Swamp Deer, Cheer Pheasants and Siamese Crocodiles

Hyderabad: The Nehru Zoological Park (NZP) here has made visitors’ experience a little more thrilling and enriching with the upgradation of the Safari section besides adding several new animals to its collection.

Among the newest zoo residents are Chinkara, also known as the Indian gazelle, Swamp Deer, Cheer Pheasants and Siamese Crocodiles. These animals, which have arrived as part of exchange programmes between NZP and various zoos in the country, have already been put on display for the visitors. Their arrival is part of the zoo’s effort to ramp its collection, breeding and conservation.

Among the other fresh faces are the two sloth bears, which will soon make their way to the zoo’s popular Safari section. One each male and female bear has recently been brought from Nandanvan Zoo & Safari, Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh, under the exchange programme. The Safari section already has four sloth bears.

Over the last one year, the NZP actively involved in the animal exchange programmes, completing seven of 17 planned swapping with various zoos and conservation centres across the country.

Earlier this year, the Hyderabad zoo brought in one male Asiatic Lion from Rohtak Zoo, Haryana, giving its one female tiger. In the second half of the last year, a White Tiger and Red Eared Slider were swapped for a female Bengal Tiger (yellow) and two Leopards with the Kanpur Zoological Park, Uttar Pradesh.

This week, the Hyderabad zoo is set to welcome Stumped tailed Macaque, Bonnet Macaque, Sacred Baboon, Wild Dog, Green Iguana, Black Swan and Barn Owl from Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

As reported in these columns, the NZP will shortly bring in 10 each White backed vultures and Long-billed vultures, and four Slender- billed vultures from Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre, Haryana, for breeding purposes.

Apart from placing them on display for the visitors, these exchanges help the zoo to pair animals, breed and change the bloodline of the wildlife. For instance, the present Asiatic lion has been facing a peculiar issue of hind legs paralysis during the cold weather conditions due to past inbreeding from the same region. The lion from Rohtak Zoo will now help in breeding, change the bloodline and gene pool, thereby curbing any genetic issues in cubs.

“The NZP is set to enhance visitors’ experience as two new sloth bears will be shortly introduced in Safari. We have already completed seven out of 17 exchange programmes and more exchanges will be completed shortly,” said Dr. Sunil S Hiremath, Director Zoo Parks Telangana.