Wild animals would be left inside the mega man-made Jungle Safari taking shape in around 320 hectares of land in the new capital city from January 2016, officials stated.
Moreover, with completion of pending structures, works and approval of a few proposals by Central Zoo Authority (CZA) New Delhi, Nandanvan Zoo and the Jungle Safari is going to be thrown open for visitors shortly.
“Excluding Blackbucks, shifting of other animals in Herbivore Safari and tigers taken from Tiger Safari of Nandanvan Zoo is going to be complete by January 20,2016.
Nandanvan is housing as many as 22 Blackbucks, of which three tested positive with 'Trypanosoma protozoa' and shifting of these animals will only take place after completion of ongoing treatment which would take about three months,” a senior forest officer said seeking anonymity.
It may be recalled that at least ten Blackbucks in Nandanvan Zoo had succumbed to mysterious diseases. In the wake of the incident, a team from Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) had visited the zoo to ascertain the cause for mysterious deaths of Blackbucks.
According to the officer, as decided in a recently held meeting of top forest officials, animals in Herbivore and Tiger Safari will be relocated by January 20, 2016 while shifting of sloth bears in Bear Safari in 20 hectares is going to take place after completion of some fencing related works.
As many as six Nilgais (two male and four female), five sambars (two male and three female) and 15 spotted deer (five male and ten female) will be shifted to ‘Herbivore Safari’ inside Jungle Safari spread in 30 hectares of land whereas the Tiger Safari had been developed in 20 hectares area is going to house two tigers (a male and female).
“Initially, the animals would be kept in a small enclosure (soft release area and crawl) so that they could adapt to the environment following which these animals will be released to their respective sectors sprawling in several acres,” he added.
Notably, the jungle safari will be comprised of four separate Safaris including Herbivore Safari, Bear Safari, Tiger and lion Safari. Besides, a zoo in 50 acres area carrying as many as 53 species will also be developed here.
A proposal regarding numbers, varieties of species, their placement, cage structure in zoo and others have been forwarded to Central Zoo Authority (CZA).
Around 166 personnel including officials, doctors, zoo-keeper, guard and others will be pressed into the task of taking care of animals, safari and also assist visitors in Nandanvan Zoo and Jungle Safari.
Due to some land related issue, the work of lion Safari is pending, added the officer.
After accomplishment of some fencing related tasks, four sloth bears (two male and female) will be housed in Bear Safari being developed in area measuring around 20 hectare. Similarly, four bears will be kept in the zoo.