Patna zoo receives 9 inmates from Mysuru in exchange programme

PATNA: Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, commonly known as Patna zoo, received nine inmates from Mysuru zoo in animal exchange programme of the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZA). The animals arrived by road Friday midnight and were kept in quarantine.
Patna zoo received a pair of zebras, three wild bison (one male and two female), a pair of wild/painted dogs and a pair of black swan (hans) in exchange of a female giraffe to Mysuru. The new inmates are under the care of animalkeepers and their health is being monitored by the veterinarians. The exchange is intended to improve the genetic lineage of animals, replenish depleting animal species and to bring new species to the city zoo.
According to zoo authorities, it was the major animals exchange after the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020.
Last year, three pairs of lion were brought from Junagadh in Gujarat, of which five were sent to Rajgir Zoo Safari while one lioness has been kept at Patna zoo in lieu of one rhinoceros.
The zoo officials said the exchange will boost the city zoo’s captive breeding plans and also add attraction to the visitors. “Soon, the visitors at city zoo will see the wild dogs for the first time here. The bison cage, which had been empty since last year, is now filled with a new pair and the lone female zebra got two new inmates for company. The number of black swan has increased to four,” said a zoo official.
The city zoo is also in talk with Assam zoo to get a pair of hoolock gibbon, one male black panther and one female rhinoceros, in exchange of a female giraffe.