Leopard ‘Veeru’ Joins SAIL’s IG Park Zoo In Rourkela
The leopard, named ‘Veeru,’ reached Rourkela on August 28 after travelling nearly 2,400 km by road from Jamnagar
Bhubaneswar: A seven-year-old male leopard has become the latest attraction at SAIL’s I.G. Park Zoo in Rourkela following its arrival from the Greens Zoological, Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) at Vantara in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
The leopard, named ‘Veeru,’ reached Rourkela on August 28 after travelling nearly 2,400 km by road from Jamnagar. The naming ceremony was held at the I.G. Park Zoo on August 31, marking the formal induction of the new animal into the zoo, an official of the RSP said Thursday.
Former Executive Director (HR) of Rourkela Steel Plant Tarun Misra formally named the leopard ‘Veeru’ at the ceremony. Senior RSP officials, including C.M. Chugh, Chief General Manager (Town Engineering and Horticulture), and Dr Avijit Biswas, General Manager (Horticulture) and in-charge of the Zoo Development Project, were present.
Veeru, scientifically identified as Panthera pardus fusca, was born on May 13, 2020. Following its arrival in Rourkela, it has been housed in the zoo’s designated leopard enclosure under the care of the zoo authorities.
The animal was escorted from Jamnagar to Rourkela by Dr Biswas, accompanied by keeper Sameer Kujur. The long-distance transportation and other logistical arrangements were carried out as part of an approved animal exchange programme.
The arrival of Veeru is particularly significant as it replaces one of the two leopards brought to I.G. Park Zoo from the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Pune in December 2024 under a Central Zoo Authority-approved exchange programme.
While both leopards were initially brought to Rourkela, one of them could not adapt to the zoo’s environment. Following the necessary approvals under the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, the animal has now been replaced by Veeru from GZRRC, Vantara.
Zoo officials said the exchange and transportation process was undertaken in accordance with the prescribed guidelines and involved coordination between the participating zoological institutions and the authorities concerned.
The induction of Veeru is expected to strengthen the animal collection of I.G. Park Zoo and add to its appeal among visitors. The zoo, located within the sprawling Ispat General Park in Rourkela, has long been an important recreational and educational facility for residents of the steel city and surrounding areas.
The entire exchange programme and logistical arrangements for bringing the leopard to Rourkela were coordinated by Dr Biswas and his team.
