- A specially designed vehicle was used to bring the pair from the neighbouring state
- Madhya Pradesh is renowned for its six existing tiger reserves: Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna, Pench, Sanjay Dubri, and Satpura
NE NEWS SERVICE
BHOPAL, DEC 22
A pair of Asiatic (Gir) lions- one male and one female – was brought to Van Vihar National Park from Sakkarbaugh Zoo of Gujarat on Friday evening under the animal exchange programme. Van Vihar has given a pair of tiger to Sakkarbaugh Zoo. This is for the first time in the state that a pure Asiatic lion pair has been brought.
The lion and lioness reached Bhopal’s Van Vihar National after a travel of over 900 kilometres from Junagarh on Saturday evening, and they have been kept in quarantine for care and medical examination under the monitoring of veterinarians.
“The age of both the lions is about three years. They have been kept in quarantine for care and medical examination in Van Vihar. At present, there are two lions and three lionesses in Van Vihar National Park,” MP forest department said.
After permission was received from the Central Zoo Authority under the exchange scheme, a nine-member team went to Junagadh Zoo with a tiger and tigress named Bandhavgarh two and Bandini rexpectively, from Van Vihar National Park on December 17, official said.
Under the exchange of animals programme, Madhya Pradesh has provided two Bengal tigers from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) spread over three districts – Rewa, Shahdol and Umariya in the Vindhya region in the eastern part of the state.
With having more than 785 out of a total 3, of 800 big cats across the country, Madhya Pradesh retained its tag of ‘Tiger State’ for the last few years, according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority of India (NTCA).
Madhya Pradesh is renowned for its six existing tiger reserves: Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna, Pench, Sanjay Dubri, and Satpura. The Union Forest Department recently approved two more tiger reserves – Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhopal and Madhav National Park in Shivpuri district
