Zoo welcomes two pure-bred Asiatic lions

Chennai: The Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP) in Vandalur has received a pair of pure-bred Asiatic lions from Indore Zoo under an animal exchange programme designed to strengthen conservation breeding and diversify the genetic pool of the endangered species in captivity.The lions, sourced from two distinct gene pools, will be integrated into the zoo's Lion Safari after they finish a four-week quarantine under veterinary supervision.Deputy director Manish Meena said the genetic distinction between the two animals was central to the acquisition. "The pair belongs to two different gene pools, which will help produce totally different offspring," he said. After quarantine, the lions will be housed in adjoining enclosures to build compatibility before being introduced into the safari area.AAZP holds three lions and three lionesses, but the last recorded breeding took place more than a decade ago. Officials attributed the prolonged gap to several factors, chief among them the absence of pure-bred Asiatic lions at the zoo.A pure-bred Asiatic lion died at the zoo nearly two decades ago, after which efforts to source replacements have been ongoing. The zoo has since approached Gujarat's zoo authorities for pure-bred Asiatic lions, who have agreed to provide them on a 1:2 exchange ratio. The proposal is now awaiting the CM's approval and is expected to be cleared shortly.The exchange with Indore also included a pair of Egyptian vultures and a female red jungle fowl received by AAZP. In return, the zoo transferred a hippopotamus, two ostriches, and four yellow anacondas, reflecting the broader framework of inter-institutional wildlife management.Zoo officials described the exchange as a significant step in ex-situ conservation at a time when wild Asiatic lion populations remain critically limited. Native to the Gir Forest in Gujarat, Asiatic lions number fewer than 700 in the wild, making captive breeding programmes an important safeguard for the species' long-term survival.