Rani of NZP gets a companion

Female leopard ‘Rani’ of Nagaland Zoological Park (NZP), Rangapahar got a companion Saturday courtesy – Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation & Conservation (CWRC), Borjuri, Kaziranga National Park Assam.

The male leopard that has been named ‘Doom’ after he was rescued during a flood situation from a tea estate at Doomdooma under Tinsukia Assam in 2006 was escorted to NZP by Rathin Barman, deputy director, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), Dr Anjan Talukdar, senior veterinarian, CWRC and animal keepers. At hand to receive the new guest were NZP director Tongpang Ao and Ranger Obed Sumi among others.

Ranger Obed Sumi, said Doom got approval to join NZP’s family of captive wildlife from Central Zoo Authority (CZA), India which oversees and decides which animal (captive) get to go where and why.

However, Rani is yet to be introduced to her ‘would be mate’ Doom, who is at present kept in a separate enclosure.

Since animals are sensitive to new environment and new faces, even of their own kind, Ranger Obed said Doom would be left alone for a month to stabilize to the new environment before he is introduced to his new mate.

At present, Rani, who was donated by chief minister Neiphiu Rio some years back, lives in a separate enclosure some few hundred meters away from Doom.

The arrival of Doom is an effort of NZP to pair animals in the 176 hectare conservatory.  And Rani is not the only forlorn wildlife in need of a mate.

At present there is a Capped Langur, a Great Indian Hornbill, a Red billed Hornbill and a male Gibbon requiring companions.

Besides, while there is an endeavor and enthusiasm to expand the NZP in flora and fauna conservation, Ranger Obed however lamented that development process was not as expected because of fund constraints.

“We want to bring in more animals but that requires construction of more enclosures and so more funds…” he said. At the moment, there are 37 species of wild life and 150 individuals in total at the zoological park.