Royal Bengal tiger pair to reach Jambu zoo today

Jammu, Nov 16: A pair of Royal Bengal Tiger, the national animal, is reaching Jambu zoo in Jammu from Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai, Tamil Nadu tomorrow morning.
Gharial, Marsh crocodiles and Black Bucks will follow them after November 25.

Earlier on November 8, an adult pair of Asiatic lions was brought to Jambu zoo from Sakkarburg, Zoological Park, Junagarh in Gujarat.
Additional Wildlife Warden Jambu Zoo Amit Sharma, while speaking to Greater Kashmir, said, “The tiger pair, aged nine years, is reaching Jammu tomorrow morning by 7.00 or 7.30 am by train. It is being brought here in exchange for a pair of Himalayan Black Bears from Jambu Zoo to Arignar Anna Zoological Park as part of an animal exchange programme.”

He said that the tiger pair would be housed in a naturalistic and enriched enclosure having a space of more than 4500 square meter as per the Central Zoo Authority’s norms with water ponds, machans, heating and ventilation facility for extreme weather conditions. “The tigers will be kept under quarantine for a week’s time and thereafter will be released in the paddock for public display,” Sharma said.
With regard to Asiatic lions brought earlier, he informed, “Lion pair is doing very well during its quarantine period. Its quarantine period will be over in a week or so and then they will be on display for the public.”

“Once they (lion and tiger pairs) settle down, we will bring Gharial, marsh crocodile and black bucks after November 25. They all will be brought in the same week. 4 Gharials are to be brought from Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Shah Zoological Garden, Lucknow while two pairs of crocodiles will reach Jambu zoo from Mini Zoo Rohtak. Similarly, we are scheduled to bring ten Black Bucks from National Zoological Park, New Delhi. Since we have ample space and we can accommodate more of such animals, we are approaching the concerned authorities for permission to bring twenty Black Bucks instead of ten Black Bucks,” Additional Wildlife Warden Jambu Zoo said.

“Schedule to bring them depends upon the health of the animal and the weather situation. Like recently when I had gone to bring tigers, it was raining heavily in Chennai so we decided to extend the date further as for us the safety of animals is the priority. As far as Asiatic lions and Bengal Tigers were concerned, there was a very well-planned schedule in place,” he informed.
Sharma stated that other two attractions Porcupine and Emu were already brought in the first week of October. Four Emus were brought on October 2 besides them, Zoo also brought six porcupines.

“While Bengal Tigers and Black Bucks are being brought here under animal exchange programme. The tiger pair has been brought here in exchange for a pair of Himalayan Black Bears. Similarly, we had given a female leopard from Manda zoo to Delhi zoo in 2017-18, in exchange we are getting Black Bucks now,” he said.