Delhi zoo welcomes pair of lion cubs; giraffe to arrive soon

Delhi zoo has welcomed a pair of lion cubs from Chandigarh as part of its “breeding loan” initiative. “We had sent a lion to Chandigarh zoo. The animal mated with the lioness there and the couple produced four cubs, two males and females each. A pair of the cubs was sent to us recently and the other pair was retained at Chandigarh,” said Dr Pannerselvam, Veterinary officer, Delhi Zoo.

The official called the exercise “breeding loan”, wherein animals are transferred among the zoological parks of the country and their offsprings equally distributed among the donor and the receiver.The veterinary officer stated that the new entrants are currently kept under quarantine at the zoo hospital.  “We have not yet put the pair on display. They will be released after proper examination,” he said. According to 2014 zoo figures, the Delhi zoo is home to four lions — two females and as many males. 

In the wake of the recent death of the only giraffe at the Delhi zoo, the officer said that the authorities are planning to get a new giraffe soon. 

“The giraffe died of natural causes. It suffered a cardiac arrest. We are planning to get another giraffe very soon,” he added.