Double delight for Hyderabad zoo amid gloomy times

A male gaur calf, was born on June 2, and has been named Komaram Bheema by R Sobha, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, in honour of the Gond tribal leader. The male one-horned rhinoceros, who is named Nanda, was born a fortnight ago.

Hyderabad: Even as a persistent pandemic continues to keep people locked up in their homes, two new lives are taking baby steps within closely guarded enclosures in Nehru Zoo Park here.

The two little ones include a male Gaur calf (Indian Bison), with the little fellow being born on June 2, sharing his birthday with the State of Telangana, while the other is a male one-horned rhinoceros (Indian Rhinoceros). The big brother, whose birth is of global interest since the Indian Rhino is listed vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, was born a fortnight ago.

The zoo park family, which welcomed the two new members with much cheer, especially because Covid-19 had cast a shadow on the zoo too affecting eight lions recently, waited for an auspicious day to make the announcement of the new arrivals and shared the news on World Environment Day on Saturday.

According to an official note, the Indian Bison calf has been named Komaram Bheem in honour of the firebrand Gond tribal leader from Telangana. The naming was done by R Sobha, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, while the rhino baby has been named Nanda.

Sobha said the zoo is in the forefront of the conservation and breeding of wild animals. “The birth of the mega herbivores is worth a cheer in an otherwise gloomy pandemic situation,” she said, appreciating the staff of the zoo and the department for their services towards the conservation of wildlife in hard times.

The zoo park, on the occasion, also celebrated World Environment Day by organising a plantation programme of native wild species, especially wild fruit-bearing trees to improve the biodiversity on the premises and move forward towards the goal of making the park a centre for education and conservation of both flora and fauna. These trees, officials said, would invite free-ranging birds and small mammals.

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