<p>Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens is all set to increase the number of hominid primates on its premises as three chimpanzees (two males and a female) are expected to arrive soon.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The primates are being brought from the Singapore zoo, in exchange for a lion-tailed macaque, two sloth bears and two emus.<br /><br />Executive director of the zoo, B P Ravi said all the documentation related to the transfer of the animals were close to completion. Directorate of External Affairs too have given the go-ahead for the animal exchange, he said.<br /><br />He added that Mysore zoo was also ready to transport the animals to Singapore.<br />Breeding programme<br /><br />The objective of bringing chimpanzees to the zoo is to aid the ambitious primate-breeding programme of the zoo. Chimpanzees were last brought to the zoo 29 years ago in 1984.<br />Currently, the zoo houses five chimpanzees, of which Vali (53) and Ganga (54) are an aged pair.<br /><br />Though,another pair Mason (19) and Mirla (22) are fit for reproduction, efforts of breeding of primates at the zoo are yet to bear fruit.<br /><br />Another chimpanzee at the zoo, Guru (17), was rescued from a circus a few years ago and is suffering from a skin disorder.<br /><br />With the arrival of three more chimpanzees, the primate section at the zoo is expected to attract a good number of tourists, as chimpanzees are considered to be the closest evolutionary cousins of man.</p>
<p>Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens is all set to increase the number of hominid primates on its premises as three chimpanzees (two males and a female) are expected to arrive soon.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The primates are being brought from the Singapore zoo, in exchange for a lion-tailed macaque, two sloth bears and two emus.<br /><br />Executive director of the zoo, B P Ravi said all the documentation related to the transfer of the animals were close to completion. Directorate of External Affairs too have given the go-ahead for the animal exchange, he said.<br /><br />He added that Mysore zoo was also ready to transport the animals to Singapore.<br />Breeding programme<br /><br />The objective of bringing chimpanzees to the zoo is to aid the ambitious primate-breeding programme of the zoo. Chimpanzees were last brought to the zoo 29 years ago in 1984.<br />Currently, the zoo houses five chimpanzees, of which Vali (53) and Ganga (54) are an aged pair.<br /><br />Though,another pair Mason (19) and Mirla (22) are fit for reproduction, efforts of breeding of primates at the zoo are yet to bear fruit.<br /><br />Another chimpanzee at the zoo, Guru (17), was rescued from a circus a few years ago and is suffering from a skin disorder.<br /><br />With the arrival of three more chimpanzees, the primate section at the zoo is expected to attract a good number of tourists, as chimpanzees are considered to be the closest evolutionary cousins of man.</p>
