(IN): Four African cheetahs arrive at Sakkarbag

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4336030,prtpage-1.cms

Four African cheetahs arrive at Sakkarbag

 

 

1 Mar 2009, 0412 hrs IST

 

 

JUNAGADH: Almost 63 years after it last lived in Junagadh, four African

cheetahs arrived at Sakkarbag zoo here on Sunday. The cheetahs, two

male-female pairs, in exchange for three Asiatic lions, which left for

Singapore last week.

 

The four big cats, which have just reached their adulthood, were ferried

from Singapore to Ahmedabad in a special aircraft and from there via road,

sources said.

 

" They are in a healthy condition. After a long journey, these animals are

resting in their new environment. We have kept them under 24-hour special

observation through CCTV cameras, " said VJ Rana, Sakkarbag zoo director. " If

all goes well, we will keep them in a cage for public viewing after 15

days, " Rana added.

 

" About 30 cheetahs from different parts of the world were brought to India

over the years, but none survived. In fact, these four animals are the only

living cheetahs in India at present, " Rana explained.

 

In Gujarat, cheetah was last seen in Junagadh zoo in 1946 and years before

that a carcass was found in 1910 from the wilderness in Wankaner taluka of

Rajkot district.

 

Source: Sandesh

 

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