New inmates hale and hearty at new home

Bahadurpura: Out of several sensitive stages of acclimatisation during the quarantine period, the newly acquired mammals in Nehru Zoological Park have successfully completed their first quarter phase of accustoming with the changed atmosphere and ambience. They are munching in their arena quite well and are healthy and kicking.

Except the Nilgiri Langur, the new species to make its home at Zoo Park, the three new mammals - Hippopotamus, Grey Wolf and Lion Tailed Macaque - would be released amongst their kind after completion of quarantine period of 60 days.

"The new inmates would be allowed to live and habituate with the similar mammals available in the zoo park as per their age compatibility. This time the animal exchange programme was aimed primarily to change the blood line of the wild animals to get the desired breed," said the official.

Now, with the completion of first quarter of the quarantine period, the authorities are fully satisfied and are hoping that soon the new mammals will be made available for full public view.

A pair of Hippopotamus namely Rama is aged about four years and nine months while the female Raji is aged about one year and nine months. However, the pair of Nilgiri Langur is quite old - the male Langur is aged about seven years three months while the female is aged about 15 years. The two Grey wolf includes one male aged about one year seven months while the female is aged about 9 years 1 month. There is only one Lion Tailed female Macaque aged about 2 years.

These mammals were brought to the Zoo on August 7 to attract more visitors with some new wildlife inhabitants as part of their animal exchange programme with Chennai's Vandalur Zoo Park. The zoo authorities brought four mammals from Chennai in exchange of one Rhinoceros and 2 pairs of Mouse Deers they had with them.