Rescued animals rehabilitated in city zoo

The city zoo, Alipore Zoological Gardens, received on Thursday three chimpanzees and five marmosets that were rescued by the customs from a house of an animal dealer in the northern fringes of the city.

“We received one male chimpanzee in the early hours today while two others — a male and a female — arrived at the zoo in the evening. All the three animals are aged abut a year,” K.L. Ghosh, director of the zoo, told The Hindu .

Before these chimpanzees arrived, the zoo had a 25-year-old male chimpanzee, he added.

Animals suffering from stress

Mr. Ghosh said a team of veterinary doctors have examined the chimpanzees and though they appear to have no external injuries, the team said the animals were suffering from stress. The marmosets, however, were in fine condition.

Zoo, temporary custodian

The zoo, he added, was only a temporary custodian of these animals and the priority of the authorities is to ensure they are given proper treatment and are in good health.

“We cannot display the animals immediately as chimpanzees need to be quarantined for at least 23 days,” Mr Ghosh said.

The dealer from whose house the animals were seized on Wednesday has been arrested.

Some rare birds were also found in the house.