Mangaluru: Very soon, a male and a female of Asiatic Lions, which are found only a few zoos of the country and limited parts of the Gir forest in Gujarat and nowhere else in the world, could be a centre of attraction at the Pilikula zoo on the outskirts of the city.
Asiatic lions are regarded to be on the verge of extinction. They could at one time be found in plenty in Baluchistan, Israel and Persia.
As the couple arrives here and if they ‘litter’ the zoo with a ‘pride’, it will be something that the city could really be proud of.
Preparations are on to bring the Asiatic Lions from the Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden also known as Sakkarbaug Zoo or Junagadh Zoo in Gujarat by a team of scientific officer and veterinarians from Pilikula.
Pilikula wildlife director H Jayaprakash Bhandary says that at present the zoo has three hybrid lionesses. Besides, there are six male and two female tigers. The total animal population including birds is over a thousand, belonging to over a hundred species.
Under an exchange programme, Pilikula is scheduled to welcome four white peacocks, six spoonbills, four white Ibis, three Alexandrian parrots and many other birds from Junagadh. Two king cobras, Two mousedeer, some reptiles and tortoises will be given in exchange from here.
Besides, in exchange for two king cobras, six black bucks and three Whittaker boas, the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur on the outskirts of Chennai is expected to send a hybrid male lion, Rhesus monkey and a few exotic birds like ostrich.
Pilikula has a rare collection of crocodiles belonging to seven different species. With the arrival of lions and other rare entrants, ‘pride’ will be added to the city’s zoo.
(File pics of Asiatic lions from Gir for illustration purpose only)
Pilikula Exclusive:
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