Van Vihar to welcome pair of lions from Bilaspur zoo today

Date :16-Jan-2020 Staff Reporter :   Van Vihar National Park is all set to welcome a pair of lions from Kanan Pendari Zoo, Bilaspur, on Thursday. Officials, including Van Vihar Director Kamalika Mohanty and wildlife veterinary doctor Atul Gupta, had visited Kanan Pendari Zoo in Bilaspur to see the pair of lions. The team has given green signal to the shifting as both animals are healthy. The two lions Satya (male) and Nandi (female) are four years old will be enclosed in quarantine specially designed for the lion.   Officials of Van Vihar informed that both lions belong to the same mother lioness Varsha. Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI) has given final nod to the shifting of lions. Currently, Van Vihar has three lions and all of them have completed their average life tenure. There are two male Montu and Lamba and one female Varu. On April 15, 2017 Van Vihar brought four lion from Assam in which female lion Vrinda died. The pair of lions is being shifted to Van Vihar with purpose of breeding programme.   Earlier, the park had planned to bring the pair of lions from Junagadh Zoo in Gujarat. An expert team from Van Vihar also visited Junagadh on December 3, 2019, and found that the zoo management selected pair of old and ill lions. In exchange, Van Vihar was to give pair of young tigers, four cheetals and two black bucks. The park management denied accepting old and ill lion in exchange of young animals. Concerned over the old age of lions, Van Vihar decided to get the pair of young lions from Kanan Pendari Zoo of Bilaspur. On direction of Central Zoo Authority (CZA), Gujarat agreed to give a pair of lions under exchange programme. But this is not for the first time when Gujarat tried to hand over old and ill lion to MP.   Earlier, such attempts have been made for three times. For three times, team visited Gujarat to take the lion but rejected the plan after sighting old and ill animal. Sources said that Gujarat is sending its lions to several states under exchange programme. The state has sent its lions to Uttar Pradesh and few states in South India but they don’t want to send lions to Madhya Pradesh. The park was making efforts to bring lions for past two years. Earlier, it was planned to bring the lions from Assam. But later, officials decided to get the lion from Junagadh. The two lions are not Asiatic while they are zoo lions.   Two lions will not be kept in display cage for visitors while they will be in special enclosure. As per CZAI rules, wildlife rescued from zoo cannot be displayed for the tourist. It may be mentioned that Van Vihar is looking for pair of lions for past two years. Earlier, proposal was made to bring lion from Assam. Team of expert also visited Assam to choose the lion for translocation but the deal could not be finalised. https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2020/1/16/Van-Vihar-to-welcome-pair-of-lions-from-Bilaspur-zoo-today.html