Curious problem of no mating partners at Vizag zoo

VISAKHAPATNAM: Several top attractions at Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) in Visakhapatnam do not have mating partners, giving way to concerns about their mental health and the dwindling number of animals with no offspring.

Visitors at IGZP see male rhinoceroses, giraffes and zebras without their female counterparts. While the facility has female Chimpanzees, there aren’t any male ones.

After passing the nocturnal animals’ enclosures, the giraffe enclosure is set up. There is only one male giraffe there, aged about 12 years old.

Earlier there were two giraffes in it, creating an entertaining experience for the visitors as the animals had company. In May 2023, the female giraffe died. Since then the male giraffe is said to have become very dull.

In 2013, an arrangement was made to bring three giraffes to the Vizag Zoo from Chennai. This included two female giraffes and one male giraffe. However, one female giraffe died on the way.

After this programme, two giraffe calves were born but they died in infancy. Three months ago, the female giraffe died and the male giraffe is back to his solitary life.

The situation of chimpanzees is no different. The zoo has two female chimpanzees aged nearly eight years. In 2016, three chimpanzees, two females and one male, were brought to IGZP from Sri Lanka.

Three years ago, the male chimpanzee died of illness. Since then, the two female chimpanzees have been waiting for a mating partner. Three years have passed, but the zoo authorities have not brought a male chimpanzee.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, curator of IGZP Dr Nandani Salaria said, “Few animals like rhinoceros, giraffe, zebra, among others don't have mating partners. That is a recent development and it keeps varying with births and deaths in the zoos. IGZP is constantly working to pair up the single animals. But with certain species like giraffe and zebra, it is difficult to find surplus animals from other Indian zoos as only a few Indian zoos have these species.

“IGZP is in regular discussions with various Indian and foreign zoos for the animals to get into an exchange programme,” Salaria added.