Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park might possess an image of ‘home sweet home’ for species but few know that the zoo also houses several beleaguered ones. The animal farm is a shelter home for array of troubled wildlife, the survivors of unfortunate man-animal conflict that is growing in numbers due to shrinking their natural habitat.
For past one year the zoo officials have seen a rise in such animals rescued across Jharkhand due to rampant deforestation, especially in the areas bordering jungles.
“We have rescued two hyenas, a male leopard, male sloth bear, sloth bear cub, two spotted deer and a barking deer. Villagers usually do not inform us when these animals enter their residential zones. It is our local forest officers who bring these animals to us. Else our zoo team rescues the animals,” said Zoo Veterinary Specialist Dr Ajay Kumar.
On May 11 last year, a female hyena aged around 4 years was found in unconscious condition at a well of Bundu forest area. Villagers had attacked the animal with an axe on its head and then thrown it in the well.
Explaining the pathetic condition of the hyena, Dr Ajay said, “The animal was kept at the intensive care unit of our hospital for 10 days and then brought to consciousness. For one month she was admitted in the hospital.”
“Thereafter, she is kept in a separate enclosure planned to turn her wildness into a captive condition. Within a week we are planning to leave her for breeding among the enclosure where the other hyenas are kept.”
In a similar injured condition, zoo officials rescued a male hyena from Palamau on March 12 this year followed by the recovery of a male leopard from Mandar on March 19.
Adding to the tally for wild animals, Birsa zoo officials on January 27 directed an elephant towards Angada Forest when it had entered in Dipatoli cantonment of Ranchi city.An injured Eagle was also brought to the zoo from High Court compound recently.
“The Bhagwan Birsa zoo is now no more restricted in housing an array of animals good in health but working for the rehabilitation of the wild animals who were bound to quit their forest land home changing into an agricultural field or village hut locality,” said Dr Kumar.