Ahmedabad: Gujarat will trade 40 lions from the Sakarbaug Zoo for various animals from zoos throughout the country.
Because of the high royal beast exchange rate, each lion will take some animals for Gujarat.
All animals that come to Gujarat under this program will be placed at the Kevadia Zoo.
The state government has approved the exchange program and has notified the Authority of the Sakarbaug Zoo to identify the subadult lion for swap.
Head of Wardlife Warden Shyamal Tikadar said: “Lions transfer has been approved by the Head of Minister of Vijay Kupani.
The lion will be transferred from Sakcharbaug to get animals for the Kevadia Zoo.” Officials in the Department of Forestry Gujarat said that since the exchange involved the lion, the mandatory nod of the minister’s head.
Now permissions have been secured, modalities can be done.
Officials said that the Delhi Zoo will get three lions from Gujarat to breed under an animal exchange program.
“The Central Zoo’s authority has approved a proposal to send a single lion and two female lions from the Sakkarbuag Zoo to Delhi,” said a forest department official.
“Sakkarbuag is also a breeding center for asiatic lions.” Officials said that the Delhi Zoo would give five eyebrow deer and two hippos for the Kevadia Zoo.
Officials said that the conversation acquired Gharia (Gavialis Gangeticus) from the southern state or from Rajasthan.
Officials said that Chennai Zoo, Hyderabad, Assam, and Bhopal were in talks with Gujarat for their animal barter for lions.
Officials have not received confirmation about the animals to be accepted by Gujarat.
Officials said that the Sakkarbuag Zoo would transfer lions which were subjective or under three years.
Meanwhile, the Kevadia Zoo will get a pair of Bear Sloth from the Sakarbaug Zoo.
Officials said that the forestry department had a large population of 115 lions in various zoos and a collection of genes in Junagadh and Distacent District Saurashtra.
This zoo represents almost 15% of the total population of Asiatic Lion Gujarat.
Of the 115 lions held in captivity in various zoos and wildlife parks in the state, 85 were found in the SakarbaG zoo only.