In search of love: Delhi zoo seeks companions for its 20 wild singles
The Nationwide Zoological Park (NZP), Delhiis searching for mates for not less than 16 animal and fowl species at present represented by both a lone particular person or same-sex teams to spice up breeding, animal welfare, and genetic range, an official stated on Saturday.
Zoo director Sanjeet Kumar stated a number of alternate programmes are at present at completely different levels of debate, with the rapid focus being on pairing single-sex animals.
“The exchanges are at completely different levels of debate. Based mostly on our necessities, we will then give away surplus species. Our prime focus is to pair the one intercourse animals, whereas additionally infusing a contemporary bloodline,” stated Kumar.
He stated discussions are underway with Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park at Chhatbir, Punjab; Bhagwan Birsa Organic Park, Ranchi; Rohtak Zoo, Haryana; and Kanan Pendari Zoological Backyard, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.
Among the many 16 species the Delhi zoo is searching for companions for embrace ostrich, rhea, Egyptian vulture, Indian gray hornbill, gray langur, small Indian civet, rhinoceros, black bear, barn owl, gray francolin, black francolin, black swan, bar-headed goose, spoonbill, porcupine and blue-winged macaw.
Officers stated some species have remained with out mates for years and are being prioritised. These embrace the zoo’s two male ostriches, each aged round seven to eight years; a nine-year-old feminine rhea that has been on the zoo since 2018; a male Egyptian vulture aged over 20 years; a male Indian gray hornbill aged round 10 years; a 15-year-old male gray langur; a lone male small Indian civet; a single male black swan; and an 18-year-old feminine rhinoceros.
The rhino enclosure had briefly housed a breeding pair after a male was delivered to Delhi in 2024, however the animal died final 12 months. Equally, the zoo’s black bear inhabitants now contains 4 females after the demise of a male bear in 2024.
The zoo can also be searching for feminine companions for a male barn owl that has remained alone since 2022, a male gray francolin, a male black francolin, a male spoonbill and a male Indian civet. Male companions are being looked for a lone feminine porcupine, a feminine blue-winged macaw and the remaining feminine bar-headed geese.
Nevertheless, one other official, who didn’t want to be named, stated some efforts to herald companions had beforehand didn’t materialise.
“The 2 male ostriches got here from Chhatbir zoo in 2021 and have stayed with out companions since. A earlier alternate by no means materialised. We even have 4 black bears, all females. A male had died three years in the past. Even amongst the females, two are pretty previous, and one can’t see correctly. A male rhino was additionally delivered to the zoo in 2024 as a accomplice for the feminine, nevertheless it died final 12 months, so now one other male is required,” the official stated, including {that a} extra proactive method may help these species discover companions sooner.
