HYDERABAD: Wildlife officials are all set to start breeding of the endangered species Mouse Deer, also known as `Spotted Indian Chevrotain', at Nehru Zoological Park, which is fast becoming a major centre for breeding of endangered species using technology.

Already the zoo officials have taken up the onus of reviving the dwindling species of White Backed Vultures. And the Mouse Deer breeding project has come as a shot in the arm to the ongoing breeding programme at the zoo.

Officials informed that there has been a rapid decline in the numbers of Chevrotain and the breeding project would go a long way in reviving this rare variety of deer.

Sporting a brown colour speckled with white markings, the Chevrotain is a nocturnal animal and is considered to be very timid, which vanishes into dense vegetation at the least hint of danger. Chevrotains basically are very shy creatures and because of this, officials point out that it is difficult to study and observe them in the wild. The diet of Chevrotain is quite varied and includes both plants and sometimes even small animals.

Acting on a proposal sent by zoo officials, Central Zoo Authority (CZA) recently agreed to allow breeding of Chevrotain at the zoo. The zoo officials had cited the success of raising a healthy spotted deer by artificial insemination in collaboration with researchers of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology. "Very soon special enclosures would be constructed for the Mouse Deer at the zoological park.

We have only eight Mouse Deer and we are hoping that the numbers would be just enough to start the project. CZA has agreed to fund this project," said P. Bhaskar Reddy, Director of Nehru Zoological Park.

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