Chhatbir Zoo to welcome new guests

Satinder Pal Singh

Zirakpur, January 20

Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park, commonly known as Chhatbir Zoo, is all set to welcome new species as officials have chalked out plans to acquire the animals from Junagadh Zoo, under an animal exchange programme.

According to the zoo officials, proposals have been sent regarding species, including demoiselle cranes, chausinga deer, chinkara deers, Asian wolf, from Junagadh Zoo.

This will be for the first time that the zoo will house demoiselle cranes, said M Saudagar, Field Director, Chhatbir Zoo. Demoiselle crane is a migratory bird. It has a long white neck stripe and the black on the foreneck extends down over the chest in a plume.

It has a loud trumpeting call, higher-pitched than the common crane. Like other cranes it has a dancing display, more balletic than the common crane, with less leaping.

These species will arrive at Chhatbir Zoo next month.

Disclosing this to The Tribune, M Saudagar said the request had been sent to Junagadh Zoo which has already been materialised now, adding that Chhatbir Zoo has proposed to give its sarus crane, ghariyal, diamond dove and Indian roofed turtle in an exchange to Junagadh Zoo under its animal exchange programme.

“We have already sent proposals to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for the animals exchange programme. After getting the approvals, we can go ahead with the exchange of animals and their transportation,” field director said.

He said the officials are waiting for the conducive weather for the safe transportation of these new species and its management. The exchange will take place next month, he added.

Apart from this, Chhatbir Zoo acquired a young male tiger (Nav), pair of wolves, foxes and a sloth bear from Indore Zoo under the animal exchange programme which will also be displayed for public soon, added the zoo officials.

Dinosaur park soon

In addition, Chhatbir Zoo will soon get a dinosaur park with six robotic dinosaurs, two of which are programmed to interact with the visitors.

Officials said after getting the approval of Government of Punjab, the tender for establishing the Chhatbir Dinosaur Park have already been allotted to a private firm, adding that as per the terms and conditions of the tender, the project is expected to be completed at a cost of around Rs 4 crore.

Chhatbir Zoo holds more than 1,445 wild animals belonging to 115 different species.

Treat for visitors

• This will be for the first time that the zoo will house demoiselle cranes, said M Saudagar, Field Director, Chhatbir Zoo. Demoiselle crane is a migratory bird. It has a long white neck stripe and the black on the foreneck extends down over the chest in a plume.
• The bird has a loud trumpeting call, higher-pitched than the common crane. Like other cranes, it has a dancing display, more balletic than the common crane, with less leaping.