The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi Zoo to unveil spring collection

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 09, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Delhi Zoo to unveil spring collection

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 8. While the Capital gets ready for the long summer haul ahead, Delhi Zoo too is busy preparing for a rather special spring opening. For those planning a trip to the zoo this coming week, it would be ready soon with loads of goodies for its visitors.

To be added to its collection would be three Asiatic lions brought in exchange all the way from Hyderabad. The lions -- one male and two females -- have come to Delhi in exchange for four Thamin deers. The lions would be here in time for the spring opening and after a short initiation would be put on display.

Speaking about the new additions, the zoo vet, Paneer Selvam, said: "The Asiatic lions would probably need no special drill to get familiar with the climate as Hyderabad is also a warm place. The lions that are coming to the Capital will be housed with the only pair at the zoo. However, extra care needs to be taken during Delhi's harsh winters when they would be especially vulnerable. The lions are expected to be in the zoo in a week's time and would go a long way in help bring in fresh blood. The zoo already has a pair of Asiatic lion and we have been on the look out for more for a while now.''

Also to be opened to the public soon would be an all new visitor- friendly reptile house, which would now have interactive learning and notice boards about the various reptiles housed here. "The plans to make the reptile house more user friendly has been around for sometime now and we have been able to incorporate it,'' explained Dr. Selvam.

The zoo will also put on display its new arrivals including a female baby born to an Indian gazelle and the four Emu chicks that hatched late last week. Also, visitors can take a peek at the newborn giraffe, which has now been allowed out with its mother. "We are excited and happy about the several additions that the zoo has to offer this season and are sure that the changes made would go a long way in making a trip to the zoo more educative and fun filled,'' said Dr. Selvam.

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