Stork to visit zoo tigress, giraffe

LUCKNOW: They have both known the pain of conceiving and losing their newborns. One of them, in fact, has even lost the mate whose baby it will deliver. Vets and keepers at the Lucknow zoo are holding guard round the clock outside the enclosures of would-be mothers Ipshita (10), the Royal Bengal tigress and Sujata (11) the giraffe, yet they are taking care to give them an environment as normal as their natural habitat.
Visitors are eager to see Ipshita's cub expected around the end of this month, while the giraffe has some time before it delivers.
Ipshita and Sujata have both delivered in the past though their offspring did not survive because of several disorders, hence the apprehension of the zoo authorities keeping close watch. Ipshita's mate is tiger Aryan while Sujata's mate Anubhav died some time back.
Zoo director Anupam Gupta informed that since Ipshita's delivery date is drawing close it is getting extra care and a special nutritious diet. Lucknow zoo vet, Dr Ashok Kashyap said that besides healthy diet including an extra doze of multivitamins and calcium, it has been ensured that a safe natural environment is provided to both animals.
"Our team is ensuring that they get the feel of natural habitat which is the best for them at this time," said Dr Ashok Kashyap.
While officials have announced only about Ipshita and Sujata, sources reveal that Aish (9) the female zebra whose mate for the past seven months is Bankit (male Zebra), is also showing initial symptoms of having conceived.