Hyderabad zoo sees birth boom with over 50 newborns in months

The Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad has reported a surge in animal births, with more than 50 newborns in recent months, including six lion cubs. The rise in numbers across species such as jackals, blackbuck, hog deer and Bengal tigers highlights the success of conservation breeding programmes at the zoo.

Hyderabad: The Nehru Zoological Park is experiencing a birth boom with more than 50 newborns in its sprawling campus in the last few months.

A highlight of the recent addition to the zoo population happens to be the birth of six lion cubs – three African and three Asiatic lions. The birth of lion cubs is considered to be one of the highest recorded in recent years.

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Meanwhile, other species also registered a sharp rise in their numbers with the births of Jackal pups and fawns of Black Buck and Hog Deer, reflecting the success of conservation breeding programmes at the zoo.

According to the zoo officials, African lion cubs are one month old, while the Asiatic lions are about two-month-old. All cubs are healthy and active, and are currently being closely monitored by the zoo veterinary team. These cubs are set to boost the big cat family at the zoo with the lion population which presently stands at 17, with 5 African lions and 12 Asiatic lions.

The lion breeding has been managed through an exchange of animals with other zoos to ensure genetic diversity. Earlier, the lions faced issues in the hind legs during winter due to genetic problems that arose out of in-breeding.

The birth boom did not stop with the lion cubs. The zoo has recently also welcomed two Bengal tiger cubs, adding to the growing list of new animals’ arrival. Presently, the zoo is home to 10 Bengal Tigers and 10 White Tigers.

And then, there are more. This season, the zoo turns merrier with the birth of nine Mouse Deer fawn, five Black Bucks fawn, four Ostriches chick, three Jackals pup, two Hog Deer fawn, two Golden Pheasant chicks, and one each of Chousingha (Four-horned antelope) and Sambar Deer fawns.

In fact, the zoo has been breeding Mouse deer successfully for over two decades. “Our conservation and breeding are reaping good results. Not just taking up the breeding programmes, the zoo is also publishing the research work in reputed journals,” said Dr. Sunil S Hiremath, Director Telangana Zoo Parks.

Presently, the zoo’s inventory has 2,178 collections with 498 mammals, 1,352 birds, 320 reptiles and 8 amphibians.