The Hindu : Karnataka News : Two leopard cubs brought to Mysore zoo

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Two leopard cubs brought to Mysore zoo

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, SEPT. 13. Two leopard cubs were brought to Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens here from Kothegala village in H.D. Kote taluk on Sunday.

The Executive Director of the zoo, Manoj Kumar, told The Hindu that the cubs, which were picked up from an agricultural field, must have been born four days ago.

He said that the villagers might have picked up the cubs when the mother had gone out for hunting. Mr. Manoj Kumar said the zoo now had four leopard cubs, including the two that were rescued in Bellary a few months ago.

Stating that rearing of cubs was difficult, he pointed out that many of them might not survive as they might lose their immunity.

Appeal

Mr. Manoj Kumar appealed to farmers and the public not to disturb leopard cubs if they were found in the agricultural fields on the periphery of the forests.

He urged them to inform the nearest office of the Forest Department if any wild animal or bird was left alone in the fields. The department would make effort to unite such cubs or birds with their parents.

Mr. Manoj Kumar said it was normal for wild animals such as leopards and elephants to enter agricultural fields on the periphery of the forests with their cubs and calves in search of food and water. He said the cubs were left at a particular place by their mothers before they began hunting, and they would return to the spot after some time with the prey.

Recalling some cases, he said that the villagers had made it a practice to bring such cubs to the Mysore Zoo assuming that they had been deserted.

Many times cubs translocated to the zoo might not survive because of the tender age and non-availability of mother's milk.

Quoting from the Wildlife Act, he said that hunting and transportation of wild animals and birds had been banned. Since leopards were listed in Schedule 1, stringent action could be taken against those indulging in such acts, he warned.

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