Kanpur: Search for a lioness for two lions, Sultan and Simba, at Etawah Safari Park is almost nearing completion, with sources at the safari saying lioness Sudha has been selected from Rohtak Zoo in Haryana to be their mate. If everything goes as planned, the lioness will soon be brought to Etawah Safari Park.Safari management was also in contact with Sakkarbaug Zoo in Gujarat and Rajgir Zoo in Bihar seeking a lioness. It was hoped that soon both lions would find their mates and their family would grow.Director of Etawah Safari, Dr Anil Kumar Patel, said first mating of lions Manan and Jessica at the safari resulted in birth of two cubs, Simba and Sultan, in Oct 2016. He said the two lions were now about 9 years old and remained a major attraction at the safari.The only lionesses at the safari at present are siblings of Simba and Sultan, hence it was necessary to bring in a lioness from outside to ensure next generation of these lions.The safari management took steps to bring a lioness from Rohtak Zoo in Haryana and there was an agreement to bring lioness Sudha to Etawah. In exchange, a male lion named Vishwa, born at Etawah Safari Park on World Lion Day in 2022, is to be sent to Rohtak.It was reported that lioness Sudha gave birth twice before, raising hopes it would successfully breed in Etawah too. Sudha’s health was to be checked thoroughly before she was brought to the safari, and her samples were to be sent to IVRI Bareilly and NCBS Bangalore.The process of bringing the lioness to Etawah could only be completed after approval from the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi.A wildlife veterinarian from Rajgir Zoo recently visited Etawah Safari, and about a year and a half ago, Dr Anil Kumar Patel inspected Gujarat, and wildlife veterinarian Dr Robin Yadav inspected Rohtak Zoo.
