A pair of Asiatic lions arrive at IGZP

Visakhapatnam: A pair of Asiatic lions – Patvad (male) and Maheswari (female) arrived in Indira Gandhi Zoological Park from Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagarh, Gujarat via Okha-Puri Express in the wee hours of Friday.

Accompanied by animal keepers and officials concerned, the journey of lions started off on August 21 in a parcel van attached to the train. They came to the City of Destiny as part of the animal exchange programme.

At present, the 11-year-old Maheswari and seven-year-old Patvad were kept in Animal Rescue Centre, IGZP, for observation and they will be released to enclosure after the conclusion of the quarantine period, zoo curator R Yesoda Bai told The Hans India.

"In line with the exchange programme, five wild dogs (two male and three females) will be sent to Sakkarbaug Zoo on August 25 via Puri-Okha Express," the zoo curator informed.

Next, the IGZP is looking forward to usher in zebras from Kolkata in another one-and-a-half months. The enclosures for the same are getting readied at the venue.