Sixteen new animals of five species have been brought to the National Zoo in Mirpur. They include two African lions, three pelicans, three wildebeest, four kangaroos from the Netherlands and four llamas. After arriving, they were kept in quarantine for 21 days and have now been released.

Those involved said the lions are being trained and will be opened to visitors after two months.

The zoo authorities say the process of bringing in five new foreign species began in order to raise visitors' interest. The supplier had a contract to deliver four kangaroos, but two died on the plane, so two were delivered first and two more were brought later. One pelican broke a wing and was not supplied, so three of the four pelicans were delivered.

Each llama was supplied for Tk 3.78 lakh, each pelican for Tk 2.44 lakh, each lion for Tk 8.75 lakh, each kangaroo for Tk 8.80 lakh and each wildebeest for Tk 6 lakh.

Zoo director Dr Md Rafiqul Islam told Jagonews on Sunday that new animals are being brought in with visitors' demand in mind. Because the environment and weather differ from one country to another, the animals need some time and face some difficulty adapting, and since they are put on show for visitors, they also need some training.

He said the 15 new animals of five species brought from abroad are now healthy. At first the wildebeest did not want to eat but have gradually started. All the animals have adapted to the country's weather, and they move around their enclosures, eat and play, to visitors' delight. More animals are being considered to raise the zoo's importance further, and a decision will be taken at a meeting soon.

"Of the three cubs recently born to the tiger pair, two are with their mother. One was sick after birth and is being raised separately."

The country's largest zoo currently has 3,065 animals of 128 species.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.