Guest guest Posted October 2, 2005 Report Share Posted October 2, 2005 http://www.asianage.com/main.asp?layout=2 & cat1=5 & cat2=181 & newsid=184121 & RF=Defau\ ltMain Singapore chimps arrive in Chennai - By C.S.Kotteswaran Chennai, Oct. 1: Four chimpanzees from the Singapore National Zoo are the latest entrants to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Chennai. The chimpanzees, which arrived in the city on Saturday, were quarantined after they were examined by a team of zoo officials, including veterinary doctors. Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Dinkar Kumar, deputy director, Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP), said, " The animals from the Singapore National Zoo will be quarantined for about 40 days to ease the mental stress the animals endured during the long journey. " After their stabilisation and adaptation to the Chennai environment, the chimpanzees will be released into the park along with 33-year-old Tuntun, the only chimpanzee in the AAZP at present, Mr Kumar said. The AAZP had written in 2004 to the Singapore National Zoo, which specialises in sheltering orangutans and chimpanzees, asking for chimpanzees, which are an endangered species, under an animal exchange programme. The Singapore zoo authorities agreed to send the animals and the Chennai zoo will in turn send them Indian rock python, spotted deer and barking deer, according to Mr Perumahl, director of AAZP. A medical team led by veterinary surgeon, Dr K. Senthil Kumar and senior veterinarian Dr Pathan Nazrullah Khan performed regular medical tests, including temperature and faecal tests on the new arrivals. Dr Khan told this newspaper that the chimpanzees would be fed twice a day under a planned balanced diet. The diet includes fruits and vegetables such as apple, grape, banana and other fresh greens. " Electron powder and vitamins will be mixed with the feed to stabilise the animals, " the zoo veterinarians added. With the entry of the Singapore chimpanzees, the strength of the chimpanzees increases to five in the park, with three females and two males. The new entrants are between 15 to 20 years old. A calm atmosphere has been created for the animals in captivity and the zoo authorities have banned the entry of the zoo staff and visitors near the quarantine enclosure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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