Mysore zoo gets 2 chimps from Singapore

Kimoni, Nkosi to be kept under quarantine condition for 30 years

Aspirations of Sri Chamrajendra Zoological Gardens to breed chimpanzees in captivity has seen a resurgence with the arrival of two young male chimpanzees, Kimoni and Nkosi from Singapore zoo. The two chimps, aged six and 11 years respectively are currently kept under quarantine conditions for a period of thirty days, as per standard zoo rules.

The two chimps arrived along with four Bat Eared Foxes. The species of foxes will be part of the Zoo for the first time.

The animals which departed from Singapore at 8 am (IST) on Saturday, were on a four hour flight, and later travelled over 500 kilometres on road, before arriving at the Zoo on Sunday morning.

Animal exchange

One female chimpanzee, which was also part of the animal exchange programme between Mysore Zoo and Singapore zoo will arrive late by about a year, as it has currently given birth and nursing a baby. The infant has to be weaned away from the chimpanzee before it is brought here, B P Ravi, Executive Director of the Zoo said.

Markalee Bin Azis, Senior Keeper of chimpanzees at Singapore zoo has accompanied the animals from Singapore to Mysore and will be in the city for five days and provide tips for care and management of the new chimps.

Chimps at Mysore Zoo

With the arrival of two young chimps, the Zoo now houses two female and four male Chimpanzees. 

Chimpanzees were last brought to the zoo in the year 1994 from Sweden. Out of the four chimpanzees received, Mason 23 and Mirella 24 are being exhibited at Mysore Zoo. Two other chimpanzees, Jason and Nikitha, were spared to Lucknow Zoo in 2007 in exchange for Giraffe “Khushi”.

Exchange programme

The animals were brought to the Zoo as part of an animal exchange programme between Mysore and Singapore zoos.

 As per the negotiation, a male and a female sloth bear, a male and a female emu and a lion tailed macaque were transferred to Singapore. In exchange, Mysore Zoo gets two male and a female chimpanzee, two male and two female bat eared foxes and, two meerkats (one male, one female).