‘Joy’ of ‘Khusi’ no more

Bhubaneswar: The male giraffe ‘Joy’ brought from Alipore Zoo to Nandankanan six days ago for mating with the lone female giraffe ‘Khusi’ died at its enclosure in the zoo today.

Though the reason for the death is yet to be established, Forest and Environment minister Bikram Keshari Arukh directed the PCCF (wild life) to probe the premature death of the animal.

The five-year old 'Joy', which took birth at the Alipore zoo, was brought here under the supervision of an eight-member expert team headed by Assistant director of Nandankanan Dr Kamal Lochan Purohit.

‘Joy’ had arrived in Nanndankanan zoological park from Kolkata-based Alipore zoo on February 24 under the animal exchange programme. The State zoo had swapped four of its tigers to get the long-necked animal.

The four big cats, including two females, were transported in a special truck from the Nandankanan zoo. Rishi, a white male tiger, Snehasis, Sheela and Payal were sent to the Alipore zoo under the exchange programme.