The Aringar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP) in Vandalur has a new member. A six-year-old Indian Gaur, an endangered species, gave birth to a calf recently, taking the population of the animal in the zoo to 11.
Officials told City Express on Wednesday that the calf was born to Lakshmi, a six-year-old female gaur, and Ratinam, a nine-year-old male, which was born in the same zoo, on January 19.
The calf, zoo officials said, was in a healthy state. Its mother is being provided a special diet comprising coconuts, spinach and other nutritious food, they added.
“We are ensuring that the mother is able to produce enough milk for the calf to stay healthy,” said an official.
The zoo now boasts of a healthy Indian Gaur population of 11 including six female and five male gaurs.
This, the official said, was one of the highest in zoos in South India.