The authorities are going to bring at least 42 species of animals to Mirpur National Zoo against the backdrop of death of a good number of animals in the last couple of years that drew widespread criticism.
The ministry of fisheries and livestock has recently approved a Tk 7.50 crore project to bring the animals and birds from four countries — India, Nepal, Tanzania and Kenya.
Talking to the news agency on Sunday, deputy curator of the zoo ABM Shahidullah said the process of procuring the animals was in the final stage and tender process would begin soon following directives of the ministry concerned.
Shahidullah said the annual income of the zoo would increase significantly with the procurement of various species of animals for the zoo.
According to available data, the zoo authorities used to spend Tk 80,000 per day to feed the animals, while around 10,000 visitors used to visit the zoo every day.
The animals to be procured for the zoo, established in 1974 on 186 acres of land in the city’s Mirpur area, include elephants, white and black tigers, chimpanzees, rhinos, giraffes, deer, zebras, hyenas, impalas and baboons.
Currently, the zoo has a total of 2,152 animals including elephants, cheetahs, rhinos, zebras, waterbucks, otters, hyenas, deer, giraffes, impala, black bears, tapirs, hippos, lions, many species of monkeys, chimpanzees, baboons, and Bengal tigers.
Besides, it has 1002 different species of birds that include peacocks, rhea, African gray parrots, cassowary, owls, ostrich, emus, teals, finches, babblers, owls, vultures, and eagles.
According to press reports, 20 animals including a lion, a rhino and a young giraffe died in the facility in 2009.
Negligence, inadequate care, inexperience, and poor living conditions in the Dhaka Zoo were blamed for the reported deaths of the animals.
-With BSS/New Age input
