T’puram: Visitors to Thiruvananthapuram Zoo are set for a special attraction with a pair of zebras being brought to the zoo from Gujarat’s Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, popularly known as Vantara.The museum and zoo department minister O J Janeesh said arrangements to bring the pair of zebras from Vantara have been completed. The arrival will mark the return of zebras to the city zoo after a gap of nine years.The zoo lost its last zebra, Sitha, in 2017 due to old age. Sitha had been brought to Thiruvananthapuram from the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur, Chennai, in April 2002. Since her death, the zoo has remained without zebras.The new pair, aged three and five, will be transported from Vantara to Thiruvananthapuram by road in a specially equipped animal ambulance. Zoo veterinary surgeon Dr Nikesh Kiran has examined the health condition of the animals. A team led by the veterinary surgeon will accompany the zebras during the journey, which is expected to take around three days.As part of the animal exchange, the city zoo will send a male lion-tailed macaque and a king cobra to Vantara.Zoo director Manjula Devi said it was a matter of great happiness that zebras could be brought back to the zoo after several years. Their presence would be a special attraction for visitors, particularly during the Onam holidays, she said.Arrangements are being made under the supervision of the zoo superintendent T V Anil Kumar. Officials said efforts were under way to ensure that visitors would be able to see the zebras during the Onam holidays.
