Dhaka Zoo to relocate animals

. PHOTO: STAR

Dhaka Zoo is about to transfer 40 of its animals to different zoos across the country.

The tentative date to transport these animals to the designated zoos is fixed for August 29. The animals will be moved in specially constructed cages.

The new destinations for the animals will be district zoos of Comilla and Chittagong, the Dulahazra Safari Park in Cox's Bazar and the Jahanabad Cantonment Zoo in Khulna.

Four pairs of pond herons, seven Royal Bengal Tigers, one bear, a pair of hippos, eight spotted deer, six pairs of night herons, a pair of pythons and two lions are part of the relocation process.

"The animals are being moved to other zoos under the consideration that they have the capability and capacity to maintain them properly," said Mofizur Rahman, the curator of Dhaka Zoo.

Chittagong Zoo will be receiving two Royal Bengal Tigers, the hippos, two pairs of night herons and four spotted deer.

The Dulahazra Safari Park will get a pair of Royal Bengal Tigers and the lions.

The authorities of Dhaka Zoo are still waiting for proper construction of cages in Comilla and Cox'a Bazar before they approve the transfer of the rest of the animals.

Comilla Zoo is due to receive one Royal Bengal Tiger, the bear, two pairs of spotted deer, four pairs of pond herons, four pairs of night herons and the pythons.

The two remaining Royal Bengal Tigers will go to Jahanabad Cantonment Zoo.

Most of these animals were born inside the Dhaka Zoo.

"We are hoping that the zoos where the animals are going, will take care of them as well as we did," said Rahman.