A seven-year-old lioness named Sudha from the Rohtak zoo in Haryana has been relocated to the Etawah Safari park in Uttar Pradesh, where she has been placed in Lion House-1 for a mandatory 21-day quarantine period, as confirmed by park officials.
Journey and Arrival
The safari park team arrived in Etawah with the lioness on Monday. The team had departed from Etawah on Sunday and returned with the lioness on Monday morning, covering the distance between the two facilities.
Quarantine and Health Monitoring
During the quarantine period, the lioness’s health, diet, and behavior will be continuously monitored through CCTV cameras. A dedicated team of wildlife veterinarians will conduct regular surveillance to ensure her well-being. In the initial examination, Sudha was found to be completely healthy and has already started eating normally.
Breeding Plans
The safari administration expressed hope that after the quarantine period, Sudha could be bred with the safari park’s male lions, Simba and Sultan, to increase the lion population in the park. Officials noted that Sudha has previously given birth to cubs on two occasions, and it is anticipated that she will breed successfully with Simba and Sultan.
Need for a New Bloodline
Safari Park Deputy Director Dr. Vinay Kumar Singh stated that a female lioness of a new bloodline had been sought for a long time for Simba and Sultan. Several states, including Gujarat, were contacted, but earlier attempts to procure a lioness failed. However, negotiations with the Rohtak zoo proved successful. In return, the Rohtak zoo administration demanded a male lion from Etawah Safari park. Consequently, the safari administration sent lion Ajju to Rohtak zoo, which facilitated the process of bringing lioness Sudha to Etawah.
Current Lion Population
Currently, the Etawah Safari park houses seven male lions and 13 lionesses. Simba and Sultan are believed to be the cubs of the safari’s first lion-lioness pair, Manan and Jessica.
Earlier Plan and Substitution
Initially, there was a plan to send lion Vishwa to Rohtak zoo, but he could not be sent due to health reasons. Later, Ajju was sent in his place. According to officials, Ajju is said to be the nephew of Simba and Sultan.
Team Involved
The special team formed to bring the lioness from Rohtak zoo included Regional Forest Officer Rupesh Srivastava, Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Robin Singh, Keeper Asif, and Ajay Kumar Singh.
