Black-necked swans arrive at Mysore zoo

After being the first zoo in India to host an anaconda, the Chamarajendra Zoological park here has two new arrivals in scarlet ibis birds (eudocimus ruber) and black-necked swans (cygnus melancoryphus).

They have come under an exchange programme with the Zoo Jlin in Czech Republic. Mysore Zoo will soon be sending an Asian open bill stork under the programme.

The scarlet ibis, which is also commonly called the red stork, has natural habitats in North Venezuela and Brazil in South America and is the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago. These birds are attractive as they are fully red and are a photographer’s delight when in flight.

The black-necked swan is one of the biggest water fowl and has a long neck, which is jet black, with pale yellow beak and a pure white body. They look majestic when they float on water. Their habitats are in Falkland Islands and various other places in South America.

According to executive director of the Chamarajendra Zoological park, BP Ravi, the scarlet ibis birds will be housed in a special enclosure in almost near-natural habitat features, which have been designed in accordance with their behavioural pattern.

The black-necked swans will be let out in the Japanese duck pond. Both varieties of birds will undergo acclimatisation process before they will be open to public
viewing.