New tigress to roar at Belagavi mini zoo shortly

Belagavi: The Kittur Rani Channamma Nisargadhama, a mini zoo on the outskirts of Belagavi, will receive a new tigress within a fortnight. The central zoo authority approved the proposal to transfer the tigress from Mysuru zoo to Belagavi mini zoo. If all goes well, the new tigress will be in the Belagavi mini zoo within a fortnight.
Just a couple of weeks ago, a new lioness arrived at the mini zoo from Bannerghatta National Park. Now, a new tigress is joining the zoo. This development occurred after an increase in the number of visitors at the mini zoo, following the holidays at schools and colleges.
Animal enthusiasts were upset with the back-to-back deaths of two lions and one tigress in the mini zoo in the past two years. However, visitors are rejoicing the entry of two new big cats.
Speaking to the TOI, Pavan Kuraning, range forest officer (RFO) of the mini zoo, said that health screening of the tigress is underway in the Mysuru Zoo. "Once we get the screening report, we will go to fetch the tigress, taking clearance orders from the chief conservator of forests (CCF)," he said. Officer mentioned that the number of visitors to the mini zoo is constantly increasing.
Presently, there are more than 200 animals in the mini zoo, spread across 34 acres. It includes two tigers, two lions, three leopards, four hyenas, two bears, three crocodiles, three sambars, 40 deer, and several unique birds.
According to the zoo authorities, ticket collections have crossed Rs 1 lakh during the weekends.