Indore : After shifting of cow-elephant, Champa, into a newly-developed enclosure, the zoo authorities would also free her partner Moti into the same enclosure. The new enclosure was designed specially to keep these elephants safe. The zoo authorities were planning for this shift for long.
“Champa was recently shifted and we are keeping an eye on her. So far no behavioural changes have been witnessed and she likes her new enclosure well,” said Dr Uttam Yadav, In-charge at the Kamla Nehru Prani Sanghralaya (City Zoo). Adding further, Yadav said, “We will also shift Moti into the same enclosure by Monday morning.” He said, initially the animal would be tranquilized for the shift. It would be kept in chains for sometime and after observing his behaviour, it would be freed later.
Reportedly, the zoo authorities had tried to shift Moti to another enclosure a few years ago. But, the animal attacked the mahout. Thus the shifting procedure was halted. A year later, to avoid any such incident, the zoo authorities are taking every step forward with care. Meanwhile, preparations for the shifting continued till late night in the zoo premise. Yadav added that the budget for the same was allocated and the work in the same direction was initiated close to a year ago.
The duo (Champa and Moti) were long chained in the zoo premise due to their aggressive behaviour and after years they are ready to roam freely. The new enclosure is developed in 1.5acre of area with an estimated investment of Rs 60lakh.
