Green signal for animal exchange

Green signal for animal exchange
- Zoo to get leopards, exotic birds from Gujarat
ARTI SAHULIYAR

Ranchi, June 12: In a month from now, two female leopards will be brought from Junagadh zoo in Gujarat to Birsa Munda Zoological Park in exchange for two jungle cats.

The Ranchi zoo — located at Ormanhji, 25km from here — would also have eight new birds for which officials were waiting for six months.

The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) finally gave permission last week for exchanging the animals and birds.

The Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden in Junagadh has a good stock of birds such as flamingos and white leghorns, among others.

The Birsa Munda Zoological Park would get one white peafowl, common peafowl, light ibis and others.

P.K. Verma, the director of Birsa Munda Zoological Park, said the leopards and birds would be brought within a month and the jungle cats would be sent to Junagadh. “We have got CZA’s permission,” he confirmed.

“We have decided to exchange surplus animals and birds for certain rare species, which our zoo lacks. This all is done under the central authority’s directions,” the zoo director said.

He added that a six-member team of forest officials from Ranchi zoo would go to Junagadh to bring the leopards and birds in a truck. “We have not yet decided upon the expenditure that will be incurred in bringing the animals and birds,” he added.

Besides, zoo officials have made all necessary preparations by forming an enclosure for four leopards and also space along with a retiring cell to keep the peafowl.

“The arrival of the new guests would give an opportunity to visitors here to view variety of birds and leopards,” he said.

CZA member secretary B.R. Sharma told The Telegraph from Delhi that they had received a proposal for the animal exchange about six months ago.

Principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) A.K. Singh said that to bring the animals and birds would require a few lakhs. “The money would be sanctioned soon,” Singh said.

As far as the beautification of the zoo was concerned, Verma said: “We will go for a facelift after the rains.”

Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080613/jsp/jharkhand/story_9404859.jsp