Disabled leopards, hyena to move to new rescue centre in Naya Raipur

RAIPUR: In a move underscoring the state’s commitment to compassionate wildlife care, the Chhattisgarh Forest Department is preparing to relocate four permanently disabled leopards and a hyena from Nandanvan Zoo in Raipur to a newly constructed rescue centre at Jungle Safari, Naya Raipur.

The animals, rescued over the years from various forest ranges, are unable to survive in the wild or be displayed due to their physical impairments and have been under continuous veterinary care.

Four leopards and a striped hyena, currently housed at Nandanvan Zoo in Raipur due to various disabilities, will be relocated to a newly constructed rescue centre at Jungle Safari, Naya Raipur. The move comes as Nandanvan Zoo faces space constraints and Jungle Safari boasts a larger, dedicated rescue facility.

The wild animals, all rescued from different forest ranges across Chhattisgarh at various times, suffer from permanent disabilities that prevent their release into the wild or display in a regular zoo enclosure.

According to a press release issued by the Nandanvan Zoo and Safari management, a male leopard named Tekram, now 12 years old, was rescued in October 2012 from the Pithora forest range. Another female leopard, Rani, aged four at the time of rescue in August 2015 from the Bagbahara forest range, is blind.

A seven-year-old male leopard, rescued in April 2019 from the Moharenga forest area near Raipur, has broken canine teeth. A fourth leopard, Narsimha, a five-year-old male at the time of his arrival in December 2014 from the Balod forest range, suffered from broken canine teeth, a head injury, and glaucoma in one eye. The hyena, a female striped hyena with one missing leg, was rescued in an injured state from the Kanker forest range in January 2017.

At the time of these rescues, Nandanvan Zoo was recognised as a Central Zoo by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), New Delhi, and had an approved rescue centre for injured wildlife, where these animals were initially housed, the release said.

With limited expansion possibilities at Nandanvan Zoo, the state government established Jungle Safari in Naya Raipur after the formation of Chhattisgarh, with plans to eventually relocate the zoo. A new rescue centre was built within the Jungle Safari in 2020. However, the continuous influx of rescued animals led to near-full capacity at this new facility.

To accommodate the remaining animals at Nandanvan Zoo, a budget of Rs 25 lakh was allocated on July 10, 2024, for the construction of a new cell within the Jungle Safari rescue centre. This construction is now complete, with final touches expected within the next two weeks. Following this, the four leopards and the hyena will be safely transferred to the new, larger rescue centre at Jungle Safari. The CZA, New Delhi, has been previously informed about this planned relocation.

The zoo management clarified that the disabilities of these animals make their release into natural habitats impossible, and they are also unsuitable for regular zoo displays. The rescue centre provides the appropriate long-term care they require. Veterinarians at Nandanvan Zoo are providing regular medical attention to all the animals.

The Nandanvan Zoo and Safari management assured that they are committed to the consistent care and conservation of all the wild animals under their charge.