Mysuru: Amidst the threat of bird flu which has forced closure of Mysuru Zoo for the past one month, there is good news for zoo staff and tourists with seven animal births recorded and some added attractions joining the zoo.
The zoo will be getting a two-and-a-half-year-old male pure Asian Gir Lion, Shaurya from Rajkot Zoo. Currently, the Zoo has one male lion, Darshan, and three female lions, Rakshita, Guari and Ranitha. It will also be getting one male and one female Lion Tailed Macaque (LTM) from Vandalur Zoo in Chennai. Three pairs of green Anacondas from Sri Lanka will be another acquisition.
“The Central Zoo Authority has already given its approval for the acquisition of all these animals,” Zoo Executive Director, Ms K. Kamala said. Mysuru Zoo has also seen seven births including one that of Dusky Lorry, two Sun Connure, one Thamin Deer, one Sambar Deer.
A four-horned antelope has given birth to two fawns, Ms Kamala informed. The new animals will be brought to the zoo only after it reopens. Mysore Zoo was closed as per Central Zoo authority directions, after reports from National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) at Bhopal confirmed Avian Influenza or bird flu among six migratory and free ranging animals which had died at a pond in the premises in December. The zoo will reopen only if reports of two more set of samples prove to be negative for the Influenza.
“We have sent one set of samples to NIHSAD on January 13 and are yet to get the reports. We will be sending another set by January 25. The new-borns have been quarantined and will be released for public viewing probably by mid February,” Ms Kamala added.
