UditVani, Jamshedpur : Tata Steel Zoological Park has welcomed a pair of African lions -Manohar (male) and Sridevi (female) – under an approved animal exchange programme with Nehru Zoological Park.
In exchange, two male mandrill monkeys were transferred to Hyderabad.
Approximately nine years old, the pair is in prime breeding age. The zoo management expects their addition to strengthen genetic diversity and support long-term conservation breeding efforts.
A specialised team travelled to Hyderabad on February 11 with custom-designed transport vehicles.
After completing all required documentation and health checks, the lions were safely brought to Jamshedpur around midnight on 16 February , following Central Zoo Authority guidelines and under expert veterinary supervision.
The zoo currently houses three African lions – Jumbo, Edd and Zoya – all about 14.5 years old and residents since 2012.
With the arrival of Manohar and Sridevi, the Park aims to build a younger and genetically robust lion population.
The new pair has been placed under a mandatory 40-day quarantine for health monitoring and acclimatisation.
They will be introduced to their enclosures for public viewing after completing the quarantine period.
Zoo officials expressed pride over the addition, calling it a significant step towards strengthening conservation initiatives and enhancing visitor experience.
