Let's go to the zoo!

The Nehru Zoological Park welcomed four new animals to their fold, much to the delight of zoo regulars
Let's go to the zoo!

If you think you’ve been there and done that at the Nehru Zoological Park, it’s newest members will change that.

After a decade and a half, the zoo is now host to a pair of Squirrel monkeys, courtesy the Gujarat-based GSPL India Transco Ltd, (GITL), which donated the animals. A South American animal that lives in many parts of the continent including the French Guiana, Venezuela, Brazil and Ecuador, it is commonly captured for pet trade and medical research, but is not a threatened species yet.

Also joining the zoo’s roster is a mute white swan and a black swan. While the white swan was donated by ITC Bhadrachalam, the Black Swan was acquired under the exchange programme from Mysore Zoo.

With the addition of these four, the Nehru zoological park now boasts of 158 species and 1471 animals. The park is also going to be adding an adult female cheetah and giraffe in a month’s time.

“While two male and one female cheetah have arrived here from Czech Republic last year, one more female cheetah will arrive soon,” says zoo curator, A Shankaran. “We have a male Giraffe and one more female Giraffe will arrive from Malaysia in a week’s time”, he further informed.

The furry-looking monkey (scientific name: Saimiri sciureus) is typically known for it’s slightly longer tail that measures 41 cms. The common squirrel monkey has a grey coat but stands out because of its bright yellow legs.

The mute swan is usually found in Europe and Asia while the black swan is a native of Australia. Measuring between 110  and 142 centimetres in length and weighing 3.7 kilograms, the black swan has a wing span between 1.6 and 2 metres. Whereas, the mute Swan measuring between 125 to 170 centimetres length, has a white plumage with an orange bill.

Visitors who turned up at the zoo were quite excited to see the new additions. “To be surrounded by all these amazing animals is a great experience. I have been coming to the zoo since last 20 years and whenever I hear that a new member is being added to the zoo family, I make it a point to visit with my family and welcome the member,” said Aditya Reddy, a senior executive at IT firm.

“The pair of squirrel monkeys are very cute. I liked its tail very much. It’s rare to spot a  squirrel monkey and here we are able to see them. Its really great,” gushed Swetha, a student.

“Both the mute swan and the black swan looked impressive with their huge wings, especially when they spread it,” exclaimed a 12 year-old Rohan, who was also fascinated by the S-shaped neck of the bird.

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