Avya Mathur
New Delhi: The Central Zoo Authority of India (CZA) has approved the transfer of 3 Asiatic lions from Gujarat to the New Delhi Zoo for breeding purposes, in exchange for two hippopotamuses.
A lion and 2 lionesses from Kevadiya and Sakkarbagh districts in Gujarat will be transferred soon to New Delhi, which will send two hippos to Gujarat.
The New Delhi Zoo will also receive 2 tigers from Anna Zoological Park, Chennai, and a pair of sloth bears from Gorewada Zoo, Nagpur, under the animal exchange program.
According to the CZA, all exchanges will be done as per rules for animal transfers.
Ramesh Pandey, Director of New Delhi Zoo said the zoo had brought a Bengal tigress from Kanpur in November 2020 for breeding purposes. “Now we have 3 male and 2 female white tigers and a pair of Bengal tigers.”
“Star tortoise, wild dogs, and iguanas will be brought from Vishakhapatnam Zoo. We stopped animal exchanges in April 2021 due to the pandemic. The last animal exchange was an ostrich from Chhatbir Zoo, Chandigarh,” he added.
The New Delhi Zoo, home to 94 species and 1162 animals, will reopen for the public on August 1.