15-May-2023: Birth of Tiger Cubs
After January 16, 2005 Royal Bengal Tigress has delivered cubs at National Zoological Park ,New Delhi. The Royal Bengal Tigress (RBT) Siddhi delivered five cubs, two alive and three still-born on 04.05.2023. At present both cubs are attended by the mother and completely dependent on mother for feed and are doing well. The mother tigress and her cubs are being kept under the surveillance of CCTV Cameras and regularly monitored by the zoo staff.
National Zoological Park, New Delhi has four adult Royal Bengal Tigers in its collection and the house names of these tigers are Karan, Siddhi, Aditi and Barkha. Tigress Siddhi and Aditi are of wild origin were acquired from Gorewada, Nagpur.
National Zoological Park (Delhi Zoo) is housing tigers since the inauguration on Ist November, 1959. On 14th May 1969, first pair of lion was also received from Junagadh Zoo in exchange of one pair of tiger cubs. From the time of acquisition of tiger Delhi Zoo is maintaining its population for conservation, education and display. Tigers have bred well in Delhi Zoo and also given in exchange too for many zoos of the country and abroad. In 2010 Central Zoo Authority started coordinated planned conservation breeding programme of critically endangered wild animal species as it is the main objective of National Zoo Policy 1998. For this coordinated planned conservation breeding programme 73 critically endangered wild animal species were selected and coordinating & participating zoos were identified for each species. Under this national coordinated planned conservation breeding programme Delhi Zoo has been selected as a participating zoo for Tiger. To maintain genetic heterozygosity among the population of zoo tigers, animal exchange programmes have been undertaken. The current acquisition of Tigers is also a part of national coordinated planned conservation breeding programme to reproduce genetically healthy population of tigers.
27-Mar-2023: Conservation Plan for Great Indian Bustards
The Ministry is taking various measures for conservation and protection of Great Indian Bustard in the country, including in Rajasthan. Some important steps in this regard are as follows:
- The Great Indian Bustard is listed in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby according it the highest degree of legal protection from hunting.
- Important habitats of Great Indian Bustards are designated as National Parks/ sanctuaries for their better protection.
- The species has been identified for conservation efforts under the component ‘Species Recovery Programme’ of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme- Development of Wildlife Habitats. Financial and technical assistance is provided to the State/ Union Territory Governments under the scheme for providing better protection to Great Indian Bustard and its habitat.
- Conservation breeding of the Great Indian Bustard has been undertaken in collaboration with Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra Forest Departments and technical support of Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun with the aim of building a captive population of the species for release in the wild and promoting in-situ conservation of the species.
- Sites for establishment of a conservation breeding centres for the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican birds have been identified in consultation with the Forest Departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat, Wildlife Institute of India and international experts. A satellite conservation breeding facility has been established at Sam, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
- The Ministry provides financial assistance to the States/ Union Territories under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme: Development of Wildlife Habitats for conservation of wildlife, including for Great Indian Bustard. A proposal was received by the Ministry from the Government of Rajasthan for in-situ conservation of Great Indian Bustard. The Ministry has informed the Government of Rajasthan that the proposal should be approved by the State Board for Wild Life for consideration of funding support from State plan and / or State CAMPA funds.
12 cheetahs from South Africa have arrived at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh
12 cheetahs from South Africa have arrived at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh as part of the Cheetah Reintroduction Project. The cheetahs were released into the park by Union Ministers Bhupendra Yadav and Narendra Singh Tomar and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The project is based on a memorandum of understanding signed between the South African and Indian governments. Adequate arrangements have been made in the park to welcome the cheetahs.
The group comprises seven males and five females, bringing the total number of cheetahs in Kuno National Park to 20. The increase in the number of cheetahs is expected to open new doors of tourism and development for the region. Experts hope that the cheetahs from South Africa will quickly adapt to Kuno National Park, as the cheetahs from Namibia have done.