Pune’s Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Museum To Add Zebras In A Bid To Attract Tourists
Katraj, 13th October 2023: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is ramping up efforts to attract tourists from across the country to the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Museum in Katraj. The latest addition to the zoo will be zebras, with the search for these animals currently underway in Europe, Israel, and Africa. The Municipal Corporation has floated a tender for this purpose.
Situated on 130 acres of land in Katraj, the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Museum is home to 450 animals from 60 different species, including tigers, elephants, and leopards. Among them, Arjun from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Bhakti, a white-striped tigress from Rajkot, are particularly popular with visitors. The zoo’s collection is set to expand further with the inclusion of zebras, four-horned antelopes, and hyenas, a move that has received administrative approval.
Zebras belong to the equine family and are not native to India. They are primarily found in Europe, Africa, and Israel. The animals are popular among both children and adults, prompting the Municipal Corporation to include them in the zoo’s offerings. Preparations are already underway, with 80% of a 5000-square-meter trench completed at a cost of approximately one crore rupees.
The zoo will welcome four zebras—two males and two females—usually aged between three to four years. Pune’s climate is considered conducive for zebras, which are already present in zoological museums in Mysore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kevadia.
Dr. Rajkumar Jadhav, Director of the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Museum, said that zebras are expected to arrive in the next eight to nine months, with costs for their transportation and permissions already being considered.
