Indian Zoos still hopeful of getting Thai- Orangutans

June 2, 2006

link:

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060602/asp/guwahati/story_6298851.asp

Love and longing at the zoo

- Officials trying desperately to find mates for 27 single animals

A STAFF REPORTER

June 1: There will be a rush for membership if the Assam state zoo

authorities decide to constitute a " lonely hearts club " .

One giraffe, an Assamese macaque and a clouded leopard are among the

27 inmates longing for a mate at the zoo. The zoo houses altogether

640 animals at present.

" The authorities are making all efforts to find mates for these

animals following a directive from the Central Zoo Authority, "

Narayan Mahanta, divisional forest officer of Assam state zoo, said.

Mahanta said old age is one of the problems in finding a mate for the

giraffe. " The male giraffe at the zoo is already 14 years old and it

is difficult to find a mate for him at this age. Moreover, it is also

very difficult to get giraffes from other zoos, as there are not many

around, " he added.

He said the zoo has already embarked on an animal collection plan, in

which priority will be given to have pairs for carrying out breeding

programmes.

One of the oldest inmates, the 34-year-old male African white rhino

named Mohan, has been living alone for a number of years. Officials

have expressed doubts about finding a mate for him because of his

age. The rhino was bought from a zoo in the US for Rs 50,000 way back

in 1974. The life span of white rhinos is 40 to 50 years and Mohan,

it seems, will have to spend the rest of his life without a mate.

One zoo has agreed to give a pair for the black buck, while efforts

are onto get one for the binturong (bear cat) from Thailand. The male

golden cat is too old to get a mate. The authorities are also trying

to find a mate for the clouded leopard from Thailand and Tripura.

The authorities are planning to purchase a pair for the cockatoo and

a sarus will be brought from Shillong.

" Rescued birds like greater adjutant stork are much more difficult

for exchange plan, " Mahanta said, adding that the exchange plan with

Thailand Zoological Park Organisation was yet to see the light

despite officials from the country coming here to hold discussions

last year. Thailand will be giving 12 animals in exchange of a rhino.

The Thailand Zoological Park Organisation has already held

discussions with the officials of the Central Zoo Authority in New

Delhi regarding the exchange plan. Modalities will have to be chalked

out and a MoU will be signed between both the countries, the zoo

authorities said.

The Thailand Zoological Park Organisation has agreed to give one

clouded female leopard, three binturongs (bear cat), one pig-tailed

macaque, two female stumped macaques, three chimpanzees and two orang

utangs.

June 4, 2006

Hi Azam,

We still wonder where the Zoo authorities in Thailand get these " overstock "

of Chimps and Orangutans from. Are the Indian Authorities aware that these

for exchange offered apes were wild-born and illegally obtained at all?

Edwin Wiek

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Friday, June 02, 2006 2:57 PM

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