Mysore zoo to have three more chimpanzees

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.

The primates are being brought from the Singapore zoo, in exchange for a lion-tailed macaque, two sloth bears and two emus.

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.

He added that Mysore zoo was also ready to transport the animals to Singapore.
Breeding programme

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.
Currently, the zoo houses five chimpanzees, of which Vali (53) and Ganga (54) are an aged pair.

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.

Another chimpanzee at the zoo, Guru (17), was rescued from a circus a few years ago and is suffering from a skin disorder.

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.