Indore zoo likely to get baboons from Punjab

INDORE: Kamla Nehru Prani Sangrahalaya may soon get a pair of baboons- members of the monkey family- from a zoo at Punjab.


A proposal for exchange of animals with Chhatbir zoo along with two other proposals with zoos in Pune and Odisha is penZzding before Central Zoo Authority (CZA) who will convene a meeting for the same after model code of conduct will end.

In exchange of baboons and other animals which will be received from Punjab, Indore zoo will send two of its Gir lions.

The baboons which are mostly found in parts of Africa are identified by hair on their faces, short tails and hairless patch on their buttocks.

Punjab zoo will also provide Indore a few barking deer and jungle fowl , which Indore does not have currently. Apart from this, jungle cats and chinkaras are also being exchanged. Indore will also give Punjab zoo a pair of green iguanas in return for the other animals.

“The exchange was proposed a long time ago, but due to the model code of conduct, it was not getting finalized. Another exchange with Surat zoo is also in the pipeline. But the proposal for the same has to be sent by Surat zoo,” Nihar Parulekar, education officer at the zoo said.

From Odisha’s Nandan Kanan zoo, Indore will be getting a female hippopotamus as there is only one male in the zoo. In return, Indore zoo will provide a fox and wolf from the animals currently here.

From Pune, Indore is expecting arrival of a reticulated python, in exchange of a wolf. The reticulated python will be housed in the snake house being constructed at the zoo.