Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Zoo To Receive Lions, Bears and Foxes From Shivamogga Sanctuary In Exchange For 3 Tigers

Two sets of Lion, fox and a bear each will be introduced into Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation’s (CSMC) Siddharth Garden and Zoo in exchange of a white tiger Vikram and Royal Bengal tigresses Rohini and Shravni to the Shivamogga sanctuary of Karnataka.

Two-officers from the Shivamogga Sanctuary team visited and inspected the tigers on Monday. “A team of the Siddharth Garden will soon visit Shivamogga to inspect the animals,” CSMC’s garden department official informed. 

The exchange is amid the excess tigers in the CSMC’s Siddharth Garden for housing the Royal Bengal tigers while Shivamogga Zoo and Safari had been in need of tigers, which is authorised by the National Zoo Authority.

Last month, the National Zoo authority accepted the exchange allowing Siddharth Garden Zoo to get a set of two lions, bears and foxes in place of three tigers.

On Monday, Shivamogga zoo executive director V M Amrakashar, veterinary doctor Dr Murli Monohar from Shivamogga visited Siddharth Garden and inspected the animals and expressed satisfaction after the inspection, mentioning that proper care of all animals will be taken. 

Shivamogga Zoo and Safari is spread in the area of around 600 acres housing several animals. In addition to this, the Shivamogga Zoo has also given an offer to the CSMC’s team that they can occupy more animals, bypassing the national zoo authority’s permission as there is lack of place to keep them at Shivamogga presently. 

Chief garden officer Vijay Patil, veterinary officer Dr Shaikh Shahed, Sanjay Nandan, Dr Niti Singh and others were present on Monday.