Request for hippo for India’s zoo
The Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP) in Vandalur, India could soon
get a female pygmy hippopotamus from the Dehiwala Zoo under the animal
exchange programme, ending nearly two decades of wait, Times of India
reports.
The zoo in Vandalur, some 31 km from Chennai, has two male pygmy
hippos who have been without a mate since 1992. The National Zoological
Gardens at Dehiwala in April saw the birth of three pygmy hippos.
“We have sought from them (Colombo Zoo authorities) a female hippo
under the animal exchange programme and are expecting a positive
response,” India’s zoo director and chief conservator of forests KSSVP
Reddy told The Times of India.
Currently, there is no animal exchange programme between the two
zoos. But if the deal comes through, it will be a big boost for the
captive breeding programme at the park, Indian zoo authorities said.
Modalities, including the mode of transportation and the animals that
have to be given in return by the Vandalur zoo, will be worked out once
a formal letter of willingness is received.
“Once their willingness is conveyed to us, we will request union
environment and forests ministry and the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for
clearance and a health certificate for the endangered animal mandatory
for species brought from abroad,” said zoo sources.
At present, the Vandalur zoo has two male pygmy hippos, 19-year-old
Bharati and his father Chubbi. The latter came with a female hippo from
the Honolulu zoo in the US in 1990. Two years later, after the birth of
Bharati, the mother hippo died. Since then, the two have remained
without females.
The widespread prevalence of the foot-and-mouth disease, common among
hippos, and bird flu in some western countries convinced the zoo
authorities to search for hippos in countries with similar climate and
environment, and less cumbersome processes in this regard.
Pygmy hippos, originally inhabitants of West Africa are monogamous
and nocturnal herbivores. They have in captivity a lifespan of up to 55
years.
Courtesy Times of India
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