By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 20 May: The birth of three leopard cubs at Dehradun Zoo has brought a wave of joy to the Zoo. This development marks a significant milestone for the zoo management, which had introduced two leopards to the facility just two years ago. The female leopard has now given birth to three healthy cubs, increasing the zoo’s leopard population to five.
The zoo administration is delighted with the birth of these new additions, ensuring that the cubs remain under medical supervision. Since they have been born in captivity, they will continue to reside in the zoo alongside their parents. Due to their upbringing within the enclosure, their mother will be unable to teach them survival skills such as hunting, making their release into the wild unfeasible. In view of this, the three cubs are expected to remain in the zoo permanently.
The zoo management has formulated a comprehensive plan to expand enclosures and enhance facilities for wildlife. While efforts are underway to introduce more species to the zoo, adequate arrangements have already been made for the leopard cubs. Separate enclosures can be provided as they grow.
It may be recalled that 2 adult leopards were brought to Dehradun Zoo from Chidiyapur Rescue Centre two years ago. At the time, the male leopard was nine months old, while the female was just one year old. They had originally been rescued as eight-to-ten-day-old cubs, making them accustomed to captivity from an early age.
The male leopard was rescued from the Narendra Nagar region, while the female was rescued from the forests of Haridwar. Now, their three cubs will also grow up within the zoo enclosure, continuing their life under protected care.
