TNN | Updated: Aug 7, 2019, 4:10 IST
Thiruvananthapuram: How on earth could be a couple of squirrels be a
match for a pair of lions? Diana and George, the squirrels which are now
on their way to Sakkarbaug Zoological Gardens, Gujarat, would have
gladly answered it describing their executive preparatory camp ahead of
the trip and how they probably saved the Neyyar safari park from closure.
The Safari park at Neyyar
dam, which had once housed 15 lions was staring at imminent closure,
after one of the last two lionesses at the park, 19-year-old Sindhu died
in February this year.
Now
the park has only a lioness, Bindu. The hybrid nature of Sindhu and
Bindu with no conservation value had always been a cause of concern.
There was an ‘exchange offer’ from Gujarat of two Asiatic lines.
But
the authorities had to do a counteroffer and nothing looked more
promising than Diana and George, considering that rarely are Malabar
giant squirrels housed in Indian zoos - Pune and Trivandrum being
exceptions.
As for Gujarat zoo authorities, Asiatic lions were just a problem of plenty.
The
frequent incidence of canine distemper virus leading to deaths of
Asiatic lions in Gujarat has always been worrisome for the authorities
there and they were glad to hand over two big cats to the safari park.
Diana
and George were fed on a special diet during the last one month to make
them prim and proper for the Gujarat trip. Both were allotted separate
enclosures and were fed on cashew nuts, groundnuts, almonds and fruits. A
team of officials carrying the squirrels left for Gujarat on Monday.
Minister
for forests and animal husbandry K Raju said that the arrival of two
lions will bring in more visitors to Neyyar lion safari park during
Onam.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/crime-branch-probe-sought-on-theft-of-answer-booklets/articleshow/70563678.cms
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