Thiruvananthapuram Zoo to get swamp deer from Lucknow

The 15 ‘Barasingha’ would be brought over from Lucknow in specially designed enclosures. Though populations off the deer exist in India and Nepal, the Barasingha are extinct in Nepal and Bangladesh.

The city zoo has already handed over to Lucknow a pair of jungle cat, two ostriches and six bonnet macaque as part of an exchange deal. Photo: special arrangement

Now that it is home to a majestic white tiger, the zoo is busy preparing for the arrival of Swamp Deer from the Lucknow zoo.

The 15 ‘Barasingha’ would be brought over from Lucknow in specially designed enclosures. Though populations off the deer exist in India and Nepal, the Barasingha are extinct in Nepal and Bangladesh.

Exchange deal

The city zoo has already handed over to Lucknow a pair of jungle cat, two ostriches and six bonnet macaque as part of an exchange deal.

Now, four rosy pelicans and a pair of Khaleej pheasants and a pair of golden pheasants are also slated to be brought over. A senior zoo official said here that the deer would in all probability brought here in December this year. A few more cages need to be made, a zoo official said here on Sunday.

Meantime, ‘Malar’ the white tigress, brought over from New Delhi is said to be settling down in her new surroundings. “She has some injuries on her paw sustained during transit. She is being administered medicines for this,” a zoo official said. This includes an antiseptic spray. Malar is also being vaccinated to prevent her from contracting certain diseases peculiar to felines.

In what is being seen as a positive indication the tigress is eating normally. Malar would be in isolation for a month before she is released into the tiger enclosure for public viewing.