6 African zebras make public debut at Chittagong Zoo

In a bid to attract more visitors, the authorities of Chittagong Zoo procured six zebras from South Africa. Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Zillur Rahman Chowdhury released the zebras at the zoo on Tuesday. Wildlife trading enterprise Falcon Traders supplied the zebras, all aged between 10 and 12 months, at Tk48 lakh. “The zebras were procured with the zoo’s own funds and they all are doing fine,” Chittagong Zoo Executive Committee Member Secretary Ruhul Amin told the Dhaka Tribune. “The zoo did not have any zebra since its establishment in 1989. We have already procured big cats such as lions and tigers. So we hope that the number of visitors will surely shoot up with the arrival of these new guests,” said Amin, also a senior assistant commissioner at the Chittagong Divisional Commissioner’s office. Outgoing deputy commissioner Zillur said: “The zoo run by the Chittagong district administration is self-dependent. The district administration has long been working to enhance the menagerie’s beauty and animal diversity.” Sohel Ahmed, proprietor of Falcon Traders, said the zebras were procured from Mafunyane Game Reserve in Pretoria of South Africa. Dr Shahadat Hossain Suvo, a veterinary surgeon of the zoo, said the two male and four female zebras were kept in an enclosure previously used for samber deer. “We have renovated the enclosure and the samber deer were shifted to a new one. We will keep a close watch on the zebras. And we hope the mammals will be able to adapt to the new environment,” said Dr Suvo. Set up on February 28, 1989, the zoo is located in six acres of hilly terrain in Foy’s Lake area of the premier port city.  It now houses over 360 animals of 67 species.