Anacondas settle into a new home

Of six anacondas from Sri Lanka National Zoo, two arrived at the Mysuru zoo recently

One of the green anacondas that has arrived at Mysuru zoo as part of an exchange programme.

Green anacondas from the Sri Lanka National Zoo have made the Mysuru zoo their new home.

For the second time in a span of seven years, the Lankan zoo has given the Mysuru zoo the reptiles – once as a gift and now as part of an animal exchange programme.

Out of the six anacondas, two arrived at the zoo here recently via Bengaluru and the zoo veterinarians have housed them in a quarantined enclosure.

The anacondas, aged four years and 8 months, weigh up to 15 kg and are upto 6 to 8 feet long. They are in stable and good health, according to C. Ravishankar, Zoo Executive Director.

In 2011, the Mysuru zoo had received five green anacondas from the same zoo as a gift. This was the first time this species was added to the list of animal here.

The Central Zoo Authority of India approved the proposal of receiving three male and three female anacondas from Sri Lanka. In return, the Mysuru zoo will be giving four Black Buck and four Nilgai to the Sri Lankan zoo.

Over the last two months, the zoo has added other animal and bird species to its collection. These include a pair of Scarlet Macaw; two pairs of Mandarin Duck; a pair of Lesser Sulphur Crested Cockatoo; a pair of Green Winged Macaw; two female Tufted Capuchins; a pair of Marmoset; and a pair of Red Billed Toucan.

Mr. Ravishankar said a large number of tourists from many parts of the country were visiting Mysuru zoo on account of the summer vacation. The addition of new species will surely attract more visitors.