The female gibbon in Delhi zoo. Photo: Sandeep Saxena
Hoolock gibbon, highly endangered species, is listed in wildlife protection act.
The Delhi zoo has a new addition which has come here all
the way from Mizoram. Currently under quarantine, the 6-8-year-old
female hoolock gibbon is a highly endangered species and is listed on
Schedule 1 of the Indian (Wildlife) Protection Act, 1972.
“She
is getting used to the climate and change of diet at the Delhi zoo and
will be introduced to the two other hoolock gibbons (a male and female)
on display by the end of this month,” said zoo veterinary Dr. Paneer
Selvam said.
The animal
has been brought in as part of the zoo’s breeding programme and is from
the wild. “This gibbon was in the Mizoram zoo for over four years and
was transported to Kolkata by road and then brought here by air. The
animal, which weighs about 12-15 kg and has an average life span of
30-35 years has been brought in for our breeding programme. The female
that we currently have is very old and we hope that this female will be
able to thrive in this Zoo,” added Dr. Selvam.
The
animal is currently coping with a change in diet and “is getting used to
a new variety of fruits and other supplements being provided to her”.
“We
are giving her bananas, apples and other fruits along with egg, bread
and milk which are new to her. She is slowly adapting to the change and
is currently doing well,” said Dr. Selvam.
Meanwhile,
the zoo has suspended two animal keepers after a badly-decomposed
carcass of a stump-tailed macaque was found in its enclosure. The animal
whose body was found unfit for post mortem had died in the last week of
August, according to zoo officials.
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