Solitude of zoo animals likely to end

The long wait of animals forced to live in isolation at the state’s three zoological parks ends now. Matured animals including birds and reptiles living alone for more than one year will be provided with a fixed male or female companion, according to a new programme taken up by the zoos’ officials. 

The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has recently issued a circular to all the zoological parks in the country asking them to ensure that no animal is kept in solitude without a valid reason as per Section 38H of the Wildlife (protection) Act 1972.

At present, about 75 mammals, birds and reptiles have been living in solitude for 10 years at the Nehru zoological park in Hyderabad, Venkateswara zoo in Tirupati and Indira Gandhi zoo in Visakhapatnam, according to the records of the zoos.

P Mallikarjuna Rao, director of the AP zoological parks, said, “We have launched a programme to find suitable companion under our animal exchange programme. In the next six months, we will ensure that no animal would lead a life of solitude in all the three zoological parks in the state.” However, Dr B Srinivasa Reddy, vet assistant surgeon at the city zoo, expressed his fears that the animals might indulge in unhealthy sexual practices if they stayed with the same gender animals for a long time.