Work has begun to bring five more species of animals to the National Zoo this year. African lions, llamas, red kangaroos, pelicans and wildebeest are coming from various countries within the next three months.

Although the number of animals has not been decided, the tender process to buy them has started, according to the National Zoo in the capital.

The zoo's director, Dr Md Abdul Latif, told Jagonews24 that the tender had been delayed last time because of Covid. "The situation is now much more normal. We have tendered again and the process is going on," he said.

"We are bringing five kinds of animals. We will give time; perhaps they will arrive within three months," he said.

The National Zoo now has 3,130 animals of 135 species, including 1,145 aquarium fish, 1,574 birds of 58 species and 693 other animals.

As deer and peacock numbers grew, the zoo decided early last year to sell some surplus animals.

A pair of deer was first sold for Tk 1 lakh 40 thousand, later cut to Tk 1 lakh. In 13 months the zoo sold about 152 deer and around 70 peacocks.

Dr Md Abdul Latif said: "We are getting a lot of applications to buy deer and peacocks. In the 13 months from January 2021 to January 2022, deer worth Tk 1 crore 10 lakh were sold, and peacocks worth Tk 24 lakh."

He said the zoo had stopped selling peacocks and might think about selling again depending on stock. "The peacocks we have now we need. If breeding increases, we may sell then. We are selling deer and getting a big response. A zoo is not a breeding centre; selling is not our target."

On the sales, he said the number of deer had become excessive, and considering space, management and the food budget, the surplus was being sold with the ministry's permission.

He said buyers can get treatment and care services from local officers. "When we sell deer to a farm or resort owner, we inform the relevant thana officer and district officer at once. We also tell buyers to keep in touch with the upazila or district officer so they can supervise properly, and get the right treatment and advice if the animals fall ill. They can get a vet's advice from the upazila."

Dr Md Abdul Latif also said some spotted deer had recently given birth and emus had laid eggs, and work had begun to hatch the emu eggs.

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