Vandalur zoo turns home for 19 new animals

CHENNAI: The next time you visit Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur, you may spot a new resident in the reptile house. A pair of water monitors that live both under water and on land, will be up for display from this weekend at the zoo, along with 17 other new animals.

The park authorities are bringing in 19 animals from Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneshwar ahead of Dasara holidays. A pair of Himalayan black bears, a pair of water monitor lizards, a Siamese crocodile, two pairs of open bill stork and five pairs of white ibis will be available by the weekend for visitors to see.

The animals that reached Chennai on Friday night were brought in exchange for 18 animals. The Siamese crocodile being brought in will act as a mate for the two Siamese crocs already living in the zoo. The pair of Himalayan black bear, which is never found in the jungles of South India, will join the solitary Himalayan Black bear already at the zoo.

A pair of Nilgiri Langurs, a pair of reticulated pythons (Malaysian python), four pairs of white peacocks and 10 female Sarang birds, were sent to Nandakanan Zoological Park in return.

The male and female Himalayan bears were put in a special cage before transporting. Other animals were put in baskets and transported along with the bears in a special vehicle via road. A five-member team headed by veterinarian Sharat Sahoo will accompany the animals. The animals are expected to reach Bhubaneshwar on Monday.

After being battered by cyclone Vardah, the zoo authorities are also planting native trees such as java plum and peepal to replenish the lost green cover. The animal exchange is a move to attract more visitors during the holiday season.

Zoo renovated post Vardah battering

Arignar Anna Zoo in Vandalur that was battered by cyclone Vardah is finally warming up to tourists after renovation. Public facilities such as park benches, drinking water filters, vehicles and roads damaged by the cyclone have been fixed.