Bengaluru: Newly arrived cheetahs from South Africa have made Bannerghatta Zoo the third zoo in the country to accommodate captive-bred cheetahs. Until now, Bannerghatta Zoo did not have cheetahs, while in the coming months, Jaguars and Pumas are all set to get added to the list of animals. Zoo officials are in the process of getting a couple of chimpanzees as well.
As per official sources, cheetahs in captivity are in Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens of Mysuru city and Vantara Animal Rescue, Rehabilitation and Conservation Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
On their arrival from South Africa, Minister of Forests and Environment Eshwar Khandre received the cheetahs at Kempegowda International Airport near Bengaluru on Friday midnight, and the Minister directed the officials concerned to take proper care of the new arrivals at the Bannerghatta Zoo.
The Minister stated, “Cheetahs, locally known as Sivangi, were found in the forests of Karnataka. However, they have now disappeared from the State’s forest areas. At least people should have an opportunity to see cheetahs in the zoo .”
The new attractions at Bannerghatta Zoo are two male and two female cheetahs translocated from various zoos in South Africa. However, public viewing of these cheetahs from South Africa would be after they complete their quarantine period of 30-days. Cheetahs in captivity are in Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens of Mysuru city and Vantara Zoo.
The translocation of cheetahs from South Africa was part of an animal exchange programme. Earlier, Bannerghatta transported four elephants to a zoo in Japan a couple of months back, and now Bannerghatta zoo got four cheetahs in exchange for the elephants, said member-secretary of Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) Sunil Panwar, while speaking to Deccan Chronicle on Saturday.
“We have adequate space for cheetahs to sprint at the zoo. Initially, newly arrived cheetahs will be in quarantine for 30-days to observe their health, especially to note if they carry any infection in them. If any infection in them is known through symptoms during their quarantine period, before a decision will be taken to make cheetahs for public viewing,” said the ZAK Member-Secretary.
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