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African safari now on at Mysore

Rare success this year in breeding of savannah animals in captivity at the zoo.

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The Chamarajendra Zoological Park (Mysore Zoo) here has scripted a success story by   being able to get most of its inmates, brought from savannah region, breed in captivity. This year, first it was the cheetah, followed by giraffe, striped hyena and hippopotamus. All their young ones are now on display at the zoo. For visitors it is like a mini African safari.

“Six big mammals from savannah regions in Africa have been housed in the zoo - giraffe, cheetah, hippopotamus, white and black rhino, zebra and African elephant. Out of these cheetah, giraffe and hippopotamus have adopted well and bred successfully in the zoo in recent days. The success in breeding cheetah is noteworthy, as it is a protected species in Africa and its genetic base is very limited. Success rate both in captive and wild conditions is very low,” executive director of the coo BP Ravi said.

Mysore zoo had received four cheetahs (two males and two females) from South Africa on behalf of Leipzig Zoo, Germany, through animal exchange programme in March, 2011. During arrival itself one female, named Brinda, was in mid-stage of pregnancy and gave birth to three cubs later. All three cubs are playfully romping in their enclosure.

The other cheetah, named Maya and aged about 6 years, was very weak and had recurrent lameness of left forelimb. The zoo authorities nursed her to her full health after a prolonged treatment and she later mated her with Tejus a male cheetah and gave birth in captivity.

The giraffe Khushi, aged 7 years, gave birth to a second calf on April 14.  She had been a resident of the zoo since October 2007. She was paired with Mysore zoo born hand-reared giraffe Krishnaraja, now aged 15 years.  Khushi had delivered her first calf in 2009.

Nine-year-old female hippopotamus named Anjali has given birth to a healthy male calf on February 16. Anjali started breeding at the age of 6 years and had delivered thrice.

Anjali and new born calf are separated from the group of hippos. She is very protective about the new offspring and is hiding it from public view.

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