Three additions to the mini-zoo

Ramesh Gujral, forester, in charge of the zoo, is understandably delighted at the new entrants, as are his co-workers, many of whom are daily wagers and work seven days a week.

In addition to that, the Alexandrine or the Large Indian Parakeets, notorious for not breeding in captivity, had laid six eggs, out of which three have hatched. It really is a delight to see the new borns being fed by their elders’. They new borns remain hidden most of the times in the baked clay pots dug in the earth, as do the Blossom Headed Parrots. The males have a head the colour of a delicious rose bud, while the females are grey headed (looks like God had become politically correct long time back).

The 25-year-old zoo, spread in an area of 8 acres, houses about 14 sambhars, 6 barking deer, 4 blue bulls, 30 Rhesus and Assamese monkeys, 2 hefty porcupines, and many kinds of parakeets. Rabbits, budgerigars, ducks, geese, pigeons and guinea fowls (turkey’s cousins) also comprise the list.

Ducks can be usually seen swimming in the ponds, while the sambhars and blue bulls, munching grass, curiously gaze at the visitors from their respective shady enclosures.

However, the main grouse of Gujral is the water shortage plaguing the zoo. He says that the zoo has been granted half an inch water connection and the perennial low pressure ensures that when a tap is opened in one part of the zoo, the other parts go without water. Filling up of water bodies in the zoo also takes a long time, he says. Gujral also rues attempts by certain people to acquire its land.

The eight men working as sweepers, cleaners and gardeners at the zoo are also a disgruntled lot. They say they have been working as daily wagers for the past 15 years at the zoo and earn a meagre Rs 1,500 per month. They either want to be regularised or to be paid a minimum of Rs 2,500 per month.