HYDERABAD: The official of Nehru Zoological Park are now looking for financial support from donors to add new animals to its list of special attractions.
Recently the officials planned to procure two pairs of rare zebras from Taiwan. But they found out that the available funds were not sufficient to cover the special transport expenses to bring them. It requires a special cargo flight to transport the zebras with care.
“Our estimated amount doesn’t match with the charges of the aviation companies. We can’t bring them unless somebody comes forward to donate,” BNN Murthy, curator of the Zoo Park said.
Hyderabad will be the only second city in India to have zebras once the plan is executed. Currently the Bannerghatta Zoo Park in Bengaluru is the only one in the country to have few zebras. Twenty years ago, there were around four of them in Hyderabad Zoo as well, but they died long back.
Besides, the officials also have plans to bring few more animals from several zoo parks from other states. Some of them will be purchased while some will be brought in exchange method where few animals from here will be shifted to the respective zoos and few selected animals from there will be brought here in return.
Recently one such proposal has been made by the zoo officials to bring one giraffe and one chimpanzee from Mysore Zoo.
In return they are planning to give one pair of lions. Adding to that, there is also a plan to bring lion-tailed macaques and Nilgiri langurs from Chennai Zoo Park. ‘’The talks with the respective zoo parks are in progress and the entire process will be over in another three months,’’ Murthy said.
Safari Park Reopened
The Lion Safari Park in Nehru Zoological Park which was shut due to unavailability of vehicles last month has been reopened, Murthy said. The services have been restored one week ago after three of the total four safari buses have been remodelled, he added. He further said, these buses will continue up to March after which new buses will be introduced.