The century-old Mysuru Zoo which is known for captive breeding of wild animals has drawn an ambitious plan to captive breed Asiatic lion. As part of this plan the female Asiatic lioness, Renitha, in the Mysuru Zoo will soon have a mate arriving from Rajkot in Gujarat. Surya, a young male Asiatic lion, will be the new partner for Renitha and Zoo authorities hope this will certainly help captive breeding plans of this endangered species.
Asiatic lion is surviving only in Gir forest in Gujarat. Sakkarbaug Zoo is famous for breeding them and later releasing them into the Gir forest. Mysuru Zoo Executive Director K Kamala said that “Everything is in place and we are awaiting clearances from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) on our deal with Rajkot Zoo. We may get the lion in November.”
She said that the Rajkot Zoo had agreed to spare the male lion in return for a few birds that are in our collection.
Renitha, the lioness from Sakkarbaug zoo in Junagadh which successfully breeds Asiatic lions in captivity, was brought here under an animal exchange programme a few months ago. In return, Mysuru Zoo gave a pair of black swans, two Indian grey wolves, and a pair of birds.
Prior to this exchange, Mysuru Zoo received a pair of lions from Sakkarbaug Zoo five years ago. The lioness, Gowri, suffered a health problem and did not recover despite constant treatment. Gowri delivered a cub, which died sometime later. Gowri is now taken off public display and housed inside the hospital.
Mysuru Zoo had Asiatic lions in 1989 but they could not breed. Rakshitha and Darshan, both of whom were cross-bred, are the two other lions housed at the Zoo. Only a few Zoos in the Country have Asiatic lion, and Mysuru Zoo is one among them.
Meanwhile a high alert has been sounded in Mysuru Zoo following suspected H5N1 (Bird Flu) reported in some parts of the Country. The Central Zoo Authority of India (CZA), in a communication, has asked the Zoo authorities to take necessary precautionary measures in the light of fresh cases of suspected avian influenza (H5N1). The Delhi Zoo had been shut temporarily after some birds died of suspected H5N1.
The walk-through aviary at Karanji lake Nature Park (KlNP), which is under the control of Mysuru zoo, has also been under close watch as a lot of winged varieties have been housed there. The Zoo management has continued to feed chicken to its mega carnivores only after thoroughly washing and boiling the meat.
“We get live fowls from a regular supplier for our carnivores and their health is checked before they are allowed inside the zoo. So far, there have been no issues since the fowls, after culling, are adequately boiled before feeding,” Kamala said and added that “if necessary, we will stop procuring live fowls from the market and instead go for processed meat.”