Hyderabad: The reopening of Nehru Zoological Park on Sunday gave visitors a chance to meet new guests-white tiger cubs, rhino and Indian bison calves.
Meanwhile, a study is underway to determine whether wild animals in sanctuaries missed visitors during the lockdown when the zoo was shut for public. Incidentally, incessant rain since morning did not deter families from making their way to the zoo, which was closed on May 2 following a spike in Covid cases.
In these 70 days, four white tiger cubs, an Indian bison calf and a Rhino calf, which was christened as ‘Nandu’, became special additions.
On the tragic side, the zoo lost some animals. The 83-year-old ‘Rani’, the oldest captive elephant in India, an African giraffe, which came to the zoo in 2019, succumbed, as did some spotted deer.
A group of biologists conducted a study on the behaviour of wild animals at Nehru Zoological Park, during the closure, especially if they missed the regular flow of visitors.
A zoo official, on condition of anonymity, told Deccan Chronicle “some biologists have researched on the behaviour of animals and birds during the lockdown period, when there were no visitors. The report is yet to come.”
According to authorities, the first day attracted 2,536 visitors. The authorities are strict on the Covid-19 protocol. Social distance markings are near all queue areas, thermal scanning at the entry point and face masks and social distancing are mandatory.
The authorities have mounted nearly forty sanitizer dispensers installed at different locations. Battery-operated vehicles and toy train were also made available with 50 per cent occupancy.
