Giant tortoises Al Dabra released for public view at zoo

• The tortoises were gifted to President of India by his Seychelles counterpart
• Minister for Forest and Environment, Jogu Ramanna releases tortoises and inaugurates new cub rearing centre

Bahadurpura: Following completion of quarantine period of 36 days, a pair of Al Dabra giant tortoise endemic to Seychelles, were released for public view by Minister for Forest and Environment, Jogu Ramanna at Nehru Zoological Park on Tuesday. 

The Minister who visited the zoo also inaugurated the newly-constructed cub rearing centre. 

These tortoises which were gifted to President of India by President of Seychelles have found their place in Nehru Zoological Park, which was chosen amongst all other zoos across India on June 25. 

Aged about 20-years, the pair was received from Raymond A Brioche, Chief Executive Officer, Botanical Garden, Seychelles by the Director and Curator of Nehru Zoological Park as gift from President of Seychelles, Danny Faure, who is on a five-day visit to India.  

This will be the latest attraction in this category and second in size only to its close cousins the Galapagos tortoises.  

Principal secretary, Ajay Misra, Principal Chief conservator of Forests (TS), P K Jha, Additional PCCF (wildlife), Munindra, Director, Zoo Parks, Dr Sidhanand Kukrety, senior scientists, Dr Kartikeyan, Dr Umapathi, Director (WWF – TS), Farida Tampal and other officials were present on the occasion.