Come September and you might say “let’s see new couples at Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park in Ranchi’s Ormanjhi district.’’ Pairs of Heron birds and Water Monitor lizards would be brought to this zoo from Odisha’s Nandankanan Zoo around first to second week of next month as part of the Animal Exchange programme.
Zoo officials are also mooting a plan to bring pairs of Asiatic lions and Royal Bengal Tigers. Sources at Birsa Zoo informed that the primary phase of this plan was discussed in July wherein correspondence with Bangalore’s Bannerghatta National Park has been done but the schedule of bringing the animals has not yet been decided.
Describing the need of these inmates, Zoo Director AK Patra said, “We did not have such species. As we wanted a female hippopotamus from Nandankanan for our single male hippopotamus but are getting a pair, we decided to bring those pairs also which are not yet visible in our zoo premises. By August 19 or 20 we will leave for Nandankanan to learn the welcome status of the new guests by next month at our own place.”
“These animals would be brought by road with special enclosed arrangements,” added Zoo Veterinary specialist Dr Ajay Kumar.Adding further about animal exchange, Zoo Director Patra said, “We are also trying to bring male and female rhinoceros from Patna zoo, Zebra from Mysore Zoo, Ostrich from Tamil Nadu Veterinary University and White Tiger from Nandankanan or Madhya Pradesh’s Bhilai zoo.” In return, animals like Himalayan Black Bear, Indian Sloth Bear, Spotted Dear, Hyena and Sambar to the mentioned national parks would be sent by this zoo. The expenses incurred for managing such wild animals and birds is shared by both the sending and receiving zoo in equal proportions.
After getting the sanction of Central Zoo Authority, the step for this single inmate cum couple communication was intended by Birsa Zoo officers. The Jharkhand Zoo Authority members have decided to focus on animal exchange programmes in this Birsa Zoo since it is counted as one of the medium national parks of India and is itching to be larger by the end of this financial year. For this reason, the zoo people are also looking forward to add an aquarium into its already rich biodiversity.
Notably, the zoo authorities had planned to establish this aquarium, a butterfly park and an aqua park long back but because of technical hurdles none of these three magnificent arenas could be established at the zoo premises till date.