Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Van Vihar National Park is once again preparing to turn its long-pending dream into reality—introducing exotic species like zebra and giraffe to its animal family.
After remaining in limbo for several months, the ambitious proposal has been revived and officials are preparing to float an international tender to hire a specialised agency that can facilitate the process.
An official from Van Vihar said that the plan is gaining momentum. "The Field Director is currently away for training. Once he returns, the process of floating an international tender to hire an agency will begin," the official said. This agency will be responsible for identifying a country from the African continent willing to donate zebras and giraffes.
Since the animals can only be transported via sea route, the agency will also be tasked with arranging cargo space on a ship.
Van Vihar currently does not have zebras or giraffes in its collection, and their addition would mark a major milestone. “These animals will be a huge attraction, and visitors will throng to the park once they arrive,” said the official. Presently, no national park in Madhya Pradesh houses either species, making Van Vihar the first in the state to introduce them.
Snake count
In a related development, the state forest department is considering a unique wildlife initiative—counting snake population across the state. This comes after Chief Minister Mohan Yadav suggested launching a survey to determine the actual number of snakes. Acting on the suggestion, the forest department wrote to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), which has since responded.
A senior forest official said, “We are examining WII’s response, and based on that, a detailed proposal will be sent.” While the exact contents of the proposal are yet to be finalised, if executed, Madhya Pradesh could become the first state in India—or even the world—to undertake such an initiative.
