Pilikula set to welcome asiatic lion, penguins

Mangaluru: Under the animal exchange programme, Pilikula Biological Park is set to welcome several new species, including an Asiatic lion, penguins, and a yellow anaconda.Park director HJ Bhandary said that a male Asiatic lion from Nandankanan Biological Park in Odisha, along with other endangered species like wolves, gharials, and exotic birds, will soon arrive at Pilikula zoo. In exchange, animals such as the dhole (wild dog), reticulated python, Asian palm civet, and brahminy kite will be sent to Nandankanan Biological Park. Animals from Odisha are expected by the end of this month.Penguins will also be brought to Pilikula from Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo (Byculla zoo) in Mumbai. In exchange, Pilikula will provide marsh crocodiles.Additionally, a yellow anaconda will arrive from the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust in Chennai, in exchange for Indian cobras and other venomous snakes from Pilikula. Wolves and gharials from MC Zoological Park, Chhatbir, Punjab, will be exchanged for dhole, reticulated python, Muscovy ducks, and hyenas that Pilikula currently has in surplus.Exotic birds and endangered wolves from Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Chennai will also be exchanged for hyenas and king cobras. Similarly, exotic birds from SV Zoological Park (Tirupati Zoo) in Andhra Pradesh will be brought to Pilikula in exchange for Asian palm civets and other animals.Bhandary said that a special enclosure will be built for the penguins to replicate their natural environment. The enclosure will be funded through CSR initiatives or donations. He also expressed confidence that the introduction of penguins would significantly boost the zoo's visitor numbers.