View anacondas at Mahabs
Tags:
Chennaiites can now watch Anacondas at close quarters. Eleven crocodiles and five anacondas have now found new home at the Madras Crocodile Bank (MCB) near Mahaballipuram.
The reptiles were flown into the city from Prague zoo in Czech Republic via Dubai by the MCB trust under the zoo animal exchange programme.
The transporting officials, responsible for the exotic animals brought here by sky cargo, explained that they had to be extra-careful while transporting their endangered passengers.
“The reptiles are under quarantine and are adapting to existing conditions. We are in the process of designing their new enclosures,” said Mr Nikhil Whitaker, curator, MCB. They will be thrown open for public in about two months time, he said adding earlier ten Gharial crocodiles were given to the Czech Republic zoo under the exchange programme.
Recalling the experience of translocating the massive reptiles, Mr Keki Patel, Emirates’ Cargo Manager, India and Nepal, said, transporting wild animals requires the highest level of care and special handling.
“Both the reptile species are aggressive in nature and special skills were required to manage them, right from when they were accepted in Prague, to when they were delivered to their new home in Chennai through the cargo, he said.
MCB sources said that the new inmates will bring in more footfalls to the centre and said that the new animals have started taking food.
They are not disturbed and photography is avoided to ensure that the animals are free from stress after a long air journey.
Post new comment