As a part of an animal exchange programme by Central Zoo Authority (CZA), Ranchi’s Bhagwan Birsa Zoological Park welcomed two new members- a pair of wolves from the Kamla Nehru Prani Sangrahalaya, Indore on Thursday. In return a pair of ostriches has been gifted to the facility.
In the pair of wolves received, the male is three- years old while the female is about two- and- a- half- years old. This is the first time wolves will be seen in the Ranchi zoo and the facility now houses a total of 84 species of animals including birds, mammals and reptiles and currently there are about 1465 animals.
“A pair of wolves has been brought in from Indore zoo with the approval of CZA and in turn a pair of ostriches was given to them. Following the norms currently the wolves have been kept in isolation for 28 days. These kinds of exchanges bring in not only new species but also help in controlling in- breeding and preventing diseases from being passed on to the next generation,” informed the Director of Birsa Zoological Park, D Ventakeshwarlu.
As per the CZA protocol, the animals have been isolated for a period of 28 days following which they will be shifted to an enclosure in the zoological park. The isolation helps the animals better adapt to the climatic conditions of a new place. It also enables the zoo management to understand their eating habits and treat any diseases.
Indore zoo Director Dr Uttam Kumar Yadav and range officer Santosh Singh Pawar brought the animals to Ranchi.
In the past Asiatic lions from Gujarat, black panthers from Guwahati Zoo Assam, white tiger and royal Bengal tiger from Kanan Pindari Zoo, Chhattisgarh have also brought in to the Ranchi zoo.
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the zoo has been closed for visitors since March this year. Special precautionary measures like application of lime disinfectant on the ground is being done. Cages and barriers have also been sprayed with antiviral sprays. The zoo staff has also been briefed about the necessary sanitation methods which need to be .