The Vandalur Zoo plans to add more lions and restart its lion safari this summer.
What’s it about? Vandalur Zoo is gearing up for summer. They’re planning to add more lions and restart the lion safari, one of its major attractions. The safari was suspended in 2021 after most of the lions tested positive for Covid-19 and two died.
- The Central Zoo Authority has approved the arrival of two lions from the Lucknow Zoo and the Bengaluru Bannerghatta Biological Park in exchange for two tigers.
- Previously, experts warned about the lack of genetic diversity among lions at the zoo. In 2021, the zoo lost four lions, three tigers, and a leopard. In 2022, they lost four big cats, including a jaguar.
Who said what? The zoo’s deputy director R Kanchana said adding lions will improve the genetic variation in the current gene pool of lions at the zoo. The zoo’s director Srinivas R Reddy said they want to take advantage of the increased patronage during the summer to restart the lion safari.