End to ‘housing’ issues at zoo

The green environs of the city zoo is seeing a large influx of brick and mortar these days for the construction of enclosures for various species of animals.

The anacondas brought over from Sri Lanka have been housed in a temporary cage now. The new enclosure is almost complete.

Similarly, work is progressing on the enclosures for the Nilghai, barking deer, and jackals. The zoo is also mulling constructing enclosures for the Malabar Giant Squirrel and the hyena.

In the midst of all this, not many seem to have noticed that the zoo water treatment plant, constructed at a cost of Rs.97 lakh, is yet to be commissioned. Power connection to the plant is yet to be sanctioned. Construction of the plant was completed six months ago.

Hippos for Mangaluru

The hippo-sized problem of space at the zoo may be reversed to some extent when a hippo pair makes their way to the Pilicula zoo in Mangaluru. “Even if we don’t get anything in return, we won’t mind. The exit of two hippos will give us much-needed room in the enclosure.

Moreover, the transfer of hippos does not need the consent of the Central Zoo Authority,” a senior zoo official said here on Monday.

The transfer would take more time though; a director-level round of talks would be held and after that the construction of transfer cages needed to be fashioned.

Meantime, the zoo is also scheduled to get a pair of jackals and six gharials from the Jaipur zoo.