Get set to catch a glimpse of four anacondas at zoo from August
Monotosh Chakraborty | TNN | Updated: Apr 22, 2019, 06:42 IST
The enclosure of the anacondas at Alipore zoo KOLKATA: You can get to see four yellow anacondas at Alipore zoo from August. The anacondas, which will be brought to the zoo mid-June from Madras Crocodile Bank and Centre for Herpetology in Mamallapuram, near Chennai, will be put on display after an acclimatization period of one month.
In exchange, the city zoo will part ways with eight snakes — two pairs each of monocled cobra and banded krait.
A separate enclosure with atmosphere of their actual aquatic marshland habitat in south American countries like Bolivia, Uruguay and Brazil is being built near the reptile enclosure.
Zoo director Asis Kumar Samanta said, “A three-foot-deep waterbody will be created in the enclosure according to valuable inputs from officials at the crocodile bank.”
The anacondas are touted to be one of the biggest attractions among visitors, particularly children, who have been fascinated by the snake — thanks to its portrayal in movies. But anacondas are very different from what is portrayed on screen. They survive on fish, rats or birds. So, the presence of the snakes will also bust many myths, a zoo official said.
A six-member team has been formed to take care of the reptiles that will be flown into the city in crates. The team has completed its first phase of training at Mamallapuram. It will get another round of training at Alipore after the snakes arrive.
The anacondas — two males and two females — are around two-and-a-half years old and 5ft long. The females are longer than the males. For their comfortable stay, we are planning vegetation inside the glass enclosure. To recreate the swampy atmosphere, we will have fountains inside, said a zoo official.
Since these reptiles survive well in Chennai, which is warmer than Kolkata, the temperature of the city would be conducive for their survival. But during winter, we might need room heaters to maintain the right temperature.
In exchange, the city zoo will part ways with eight snakes — two pairs each of monocled cobra and banded krait.
A separate enclosure with atmosphere of their actual aquatic marshland habitat in south American countries like Bolivia, Uruguay and Brazil is being built near the reptile enclosure.
Zoo director Asis Kumar Samanta said, “A three-foot-deep waterbody will be created in the enclosure according to valuable inputs from officials at the crocodile bank.”
The anacondas are touted to be one of the biggest attractions among visitors, particularly children, who have been fascinated by the snake — thanks to its portrayal in movies. But anacondas are very different from what is portrayed on screen. They survive on fish, rats or birds. So, the presence of the snakes will also bust many myths, a zoo official said.
A six-member team has been formed to take care of the reptiles that will be flown into the city in crates. The team has completed its first phase of training at Mamallapuram. It will get another round of training at Alipore after the snakes arrive.
The anacondas — two males and two females — are around two-and-a-half years old and 5ft long. The females are longer than the males. For their comfortable stay, we are planning vegetation inside the glass enclosure. To recreate the swampy atmosphere, we will have fountains inside, said a zoo official.
Since these reptiles survive well in Chennai, which is warmer than Kolkata, the temperature of the city would be conducive for their survival. But during winter, we might need room heaters to maintain the right temperature.
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