Lonely giraffe to get a pair of friends, but no mate yet

HYDERABAD: Twelve-year-old Tsunami Basant need not live in solitude anymore. The only giraffe in TS, lodged at Nehru Zoological Park here, will soon have the company of a pair of young giraffes, which are being especially flown in from Alipore Zoological Park in Kolkata. 

However, the forest officials have failed to get a mate for Tsunami Basant, which is living alone for more than almost eight years now.Under the animal exchange programme, the city zoo will give a pair of a jaguars for a pair of a giraffes.

“We got approval from Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for an animal exchange programme. Our veterinary team will visit Alipore zoo and transport the animals to Hyderabad by road,” said Dr MA Hakeem, assistant director at Nehru Zoological Park. He said the giraffes, one male and one female, are around three years old and will be transported in a specially-designed ‘low bed truck’ from Kolkata.  “Recently, CZA issued a no objection certificate for the exchange programme. They will reach Hyderabad on or before October 21. All precautions will be taken to acclimatise the newcomers to local weather conditions,” the official said.

This 14-feet-tall, 12-year-old giraffe was born at Delhi zoo on Basant Panchami, a day after the tsunami, hence the name Tsunami Basant. Basant was brought from Delhi zoo in 2009 and since then, officials are searching a partner for him.Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009, of the Ministry of Environment and Forest and guidelines from CZA says that no animal should be left single for more than six months.