Nehru Zoo to add wallabies, zebras, gibbons

HYDERABAD: Visits to the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad are set to become more engaging with new animals being added to the collection. Officials announced on Wednesday that wallabies, zebras, mandrills and gibbons will soon join the nearly 100 species already housed at the zoo.

For the first time, the zoo will house wallabies, smaller relatives of kangaroos from Australia. Wallabies stand around 3 feet tall, compared to kangaroos which grow up to 8 feet.

Zoo authorities also plan to bring in three zebras—two males and one female—along with two mandrills and a pair of white-handed gibbons. Talks are under way to secure a female giraffe to pair with Sunny, the zoo’s lone male giraffe.

Chief Wildlife Warden of Telangana, Elusing Meru, carried out a surprise inspection of the zoo on Wednesday. He reviewed the enclosures and facilities being readied for the arrivals. Zoo director Dr Sunil S Hiremath and curator J Vasantha briefed him on the progress.

Officials said all new animals would first be housed in the zoo’s quarantine wing for mandatory health checks before being moved into their enclosures. Plans are also being drawn up to bring in hoolock gibbons, the only ape species native to India.