Patna: Two young lionesses, aged between 13 and 15 months, have arrived at Patna Zoo from Rajgir Zoo Safari as part of an ongoing wildlife exchange programme. In a reciprocal move, a female lioness named Parvati has been sent from Patna Zoo to Rajgir Zoo Safari, following approval from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).
The new arrivals have been quarantined for 30 days under the supervision of a dedicated team of zoo veterinarians. Officials said that the quarantine period is crucial to help the animals acclimatise to their new environment, as transfers can be stressful. Once this period ends, the lionesses will be moved to their enclosures for public viewing.
Patna Zoo plans further transfers to improve genetic diversity among its animal population. Discussions are underway to bring Shanghai deer (Manipuri deer) and gaur (Indian bison) from zoos in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, with officials hopeful that these species will arrive within the next two months.
Meanwhile, the zoo is preparing to launch online ticket booking from March, complementing existing offline facilities. In addition, a modern command and control centre is planned, along with the installation of approximately 150 CCTV cameras, aimed at enhancing security and visitor management.
