Exotic foreign birds add colour to Pilikula

Donated by few exotic bird lovers, these 20 birds have already become centre of attraction in the Biological Park. The colourful birds which have made their way to Pilikula are Blue Gold Macaw, Green Wing Macaw, Galah Cockatoo, Citron Cockatoo, Sun Conure, African Grey Parrot, Toucan and Ring-necked Parakeet. 

Speaking to City Herald, the Park Director H Jayaprakash Bhandary informed that these exotic birds are expensive varieties and could price anywhere between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh. “The donor has gifted the birds with so much of love on a prior condition that he should be allowed to visit the Park and watch these birds whenever he wishes to. And we have received the gift by agreeing upon the condition,” he said.

The newly arrived birds have their origin in South and Central America, North and Central Africa, Myanmar and China. When asked about these birds’ adjustible nature in the new environment, Bhandary said the Park authorities have taken utmost effort to keep the birds safe. “We have created an ambience suitable for these exotic birds in the Park. The enclosures have been created in such a way that they resemble the environment which suits these birds. We have provided spacious enclosures to these birds unlike the enclosures of the other birds, hence they can stay comfortably here.

The inputs from bird breeding expert Abdul Rahman Fayaz too has helped us to a great extent,” he informed.

If all the birds are fed with fruits and sprouted grains including apple, grapes and papaya, toucan is fed with rats once in a week.  Informing about the future plans, Bhandary said the Park authorities have planned to rear the exotic birds and animals on 90:10 basis. About 10 per cent of the species in our park will be of exotic types. The students are very enthusiastic towards watching exotic birds. We are preparing few more enclosures to accommodate rare birds in the Park. One can sight Ostrich in Pilikula in a near future, he said.

Captive snakes breeding

The in-house captive breeding at the Park has resulted in 90 small snakes taking birth in a short period of 24 hours.  The Indian Rock Python, Indian King Cobra, Russles Viper, Whitakers Boa and Hump-nosed pit viper have given birth to the young ones in artificially created enclosures created for the breeding purpose.

Bhandary informed that the Park authorities have decided to release these snakes in the forest area as and when the number of snakes.