: The city zoo may welcome two Himalayan bears by Onam if all goes according to plan.
It was a year-and-a-half ago that the zoo began gearing up to receive the bears from Nagaland. In return, it was to hand over two tigers. Talks were held with the Nagaland zoo, and all that remained was for the transportation details to be worked out. But that proved a hurdle too high. The modalities of the transfer could not be solved to everyone’s satisfaction. In between, the transfer window expired and an extension was sought.
Just when all hopes of seeing the bears had vanished, a meeting attended by Forest Minister K. Raju decided to speed up things. The animals will now be transported by train by a team led by the zoo Superintendent.
Besides a reticulated python, a pair of white peacocks from the Vandalur zoo will be brought in exchange for white and brown rheas, Zoo Director K. Gangadharan said.
The zoo is also planning to open to the public by Onam the children’s park with imported equipment set up on the premises. Work on the park is nearly complete.
New superintendent
Meanwhile T.V. Anil Kumar who was Superintendent at the State Museum and Zoo, Thrissur, here is all set to take charge as the new Superintendent here.
