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Bihar floods prolong Shiva's 23-year wait for a lover |
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By: Somita Pal |
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Date:
2008-10-16 |
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Place: Mumbai |
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Akele akele: Of the six prospective mates for Shiva (left), the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park chose female rhino Hartali. File PIC | He has been celibate for 23 years, but his wait for a mate is far from over. Byculla zoo's lovelorn rhino Shiva's meeting with his lover has been put on hold once again. This time it was the Bihar floods.
The Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park (SGBP) in Patna, which had six prospective mates, had decided to send a female rhino named Hartali (29) after the BMC had forwarded its request a month and half back. "Hartali is of the same age as Shiva. We have no problem sending her, but because of the floods here, other issues took priority and this matter was put on hold," said Rakesh Kumar, director, SGBP.
Earlier, the Patna zoo had asked for an exotic animal in exchange for the female rhino. The BMC had agreed to send a pair of exotic birds. However, the SGBP later changed their minds. "The Byculla zoo didn't have anything worthy of an exchange. Since we have six female rhinos, we don't mind sending one for free. The animals will anyway stay in India. It is the government that has to decide and inform the Central Zoo Authority," said Kumar.
SGBP, which holds the world's second position in rhino conservation programme after California's San Diego Zoo, was also apprehensive about the Byculla zoo's animal conservation programme. Said Kumar, "The Mumbai zoo's record of species building programme is very poor, but we are saying yes just for Shiva." An official from the Byculla zoo said they would be following up with the Patna government soon. |
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