Saturday, October 24, 2009
Prithviraj Singh | Dehradun
Leopard Raja, the face of Malsi Dear Park, and its female partner Rani may soon be shifted to Almora following an official directive by Central Zoo Authority of India to Park administration in this regard. The Authority has asked the Dehradun Forest Division to free the park of all its animals except deer.
According to Dehradun forest officials, leopard Raja, who was saved from near death two year back will now be shifted to Almora zoo along with his partner Rani in days ahead. The Park that comes under the jurisdiction of DFO Dehradun will be developed as Mini Zoo but the Central Zoo Authority has asked the DFO to relocate all other animals except deer from here to somewhere else.
Besides two big cats, Malsi Dear Park also houses eagles, owls, exotics parrots, ducks, rabbits and other wildlife species along with substantial population of deer.
According to DFO Dehradun, all animals kept in Malsi Deer Park will be relocated and sent to other places. In fact, a placard has already been placed in front of rabbit cell allowing the public to take them away voluntarily under condition that no harm will be done to them.
“Initially, we are planning to relocate leopard Raja and its female counterpart Rani to Almora Zoo in pursuit of honouring the directives of the Central Zoo Authority. According to authority’s directives, the Park has to be freed from all other species as only deer will be allowed to thrive at Malsi”, informed BK Gangte, DFO Dehradun.
Gangte said that plan for developing Malsi as Mini Zoo has been sanctioned by the Central Zoo Authority of India. “Plan has been prepared with estimated expanses and will soon be sent to the Authority”, said Gangte.
However forest officials were not at ease to explain the self-contradictory statements of Central Zoo Authority whereby it said the park will be freed of other animals while on the other hand it wants captivity into a zoo.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/210938/Malsi-Park%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98Raja–Rani%E2%80%99-set-to-get-new-kingdom.html
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