Mumbai: From a zoo filled with animals and birds, the Jijamata Udyan, or Byculla Zoo, has seen some really bad days with only a rhinoceros, a few other animals, birds, and some Dolphins. This week, the Byculla zoo got a new pair of leopards, named Drogone and Pinto. Along with the leopards,0 a pair of Jackal and peacock are also brought from Mangalore.
A pair of swamp deer which was brought from the Kanpur zoological park in March is being put out for display from Friday and the authorities are also in talks of bringing in a lion from the Sakkar Baug zoological garden and a sloth bear from Surat zoo. The male leopard is two years old and the female is three years old.
The procurement of the animals is being conducted under the animal exchange proposal, in which the zoo authorities from different jurisdictions of the country exchange animals and birds for their better care. The animals were brought by exchanging two pairs of painted storks, one pair of African Grey Parrot and a pair of Alexandrian Parakeet.
The leopards were brought on April 28, by road. Expert veterinarians were present to monitor their health throughout the 48 hours long journey. Presently, they are being fed the same diet of chicken and buffalo meat which they were being given earlier at the Mangalore zoo.
The animals are kept inside a quarantine enclosure where veterinarians will be keeping them under observation for about a month, to ensure there is no infection. In case of any sign of abnormality in their health, they will diagnose and treat it immediately. The zoo officials stated, earlier this week, they showed the animals to the mayor, who lives within the zoo premises.
Also a special facility for the leopards is under construction, to provide a perching place with wooden lofts. With the recent allotment of 12 acre land to the central zoo authorities, the premises will be beautified and extended at the Mafatlal Mill land, adjacent to the zoo premises.
“We are in the process of upgrading and increasing the animal enclosures with better viewing facilities,” said Dr Sanjay Tripathi, director of the zoo. Dr. Tripathi also stated that exotic animals like black Jaguar, ostrich, emu, zebra, giraffe, mandrill monkey and chimpanzee will be brought to the zoo after up-gradation. Presently the seven Humboldt penguins are the major attraction.
