Process to relocate 115 spotted deer from Sambalpur Zoo to Debrigarh Sanctuary begins

The process to relocate 115 spotted deer from Sambalpur Zoo to Debrigarh Sanctuary has started, officials informed on Tuesday.

Anshu Pragyan Das, DFO Hirakud Wildlife Division informed that the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has approved a masterplan for Sambalpur Zoo which can now have 48 species in 13 hectares. Accordingly, a proposal was earlier sent for shifting 115 deer.

All enclosures will be renovated and enriched as per the masterplan. There is a proposal to bring Tiger and Magar to Sambalpur Zoo. Only 8 spotted deer will be kept at Sambalpur Zoo, said Das.

“As the spotted deer were in the zoo and under human observation, we have set up a quarantine enclosure of 1.2 hectares; 115 spotted deer will be released in a phased manner to acclimatise them to natural habitat of a sanctuary. The animals will be kept in the quarantine enclosure for two to four weeks and they will be completely under observation. A customised vehicle has also been made for translocation," Das said.

Odisha Wildlife Wing had earlier proposed to bring 4 tigers to Sambalpur Zoo. It has been approved and once space is created, the animals from other zoos will be brought to Sambalpur zoo, the DFO added.

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