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Hope builds for stork's call in zoo chimps' cage
KUNAL DOLEY
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1173504.cms
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, JULY 18, 2005 01:27:00 AM ]
 
NEW DELHI: After over seven months of concerted effort, Delhi zoo's last
big effort to usher in a bundle of joy in the chimpanzee enclosure is
finally bearing fruit. 

Reeta, the young female chimp, which was procured from Chandigarh's
Chhatbir zoo in December last year, has apparently gone into a 'heat'
period, thereby increasing the chances of mating. 

Said Delhi zoo director BS Bonal: "Rustam and Ruby have been together for a
long time. So maybe that's why they were not getting attracted to each
other. Then we got another female chimp, Reeta, from Chandigarh and we were
sincerely hoping that things would work. But all this while, they were
simply not getting the desired stimulant." 

According to Bonal, there is a particular 'heat period' when an animal is
ready for mating. "But in this new chimp's case, so far that period had not
arrived. This may have happened due to many factors like climatic change,
biological factors, old age, etc," he said. 

Zoo officials are upbeat now that Reeta has gone into the heat period. Said
Bonal: "For the past four days, Reeta and Rustam have been doing quite
well. They have been kept together in the same enclosure and mating is
taking place." 
Delhi zoo had waited very long for the stork to visit the chimps. 

Only last year, before the new chimp was procured from Chandigarh, the zoo
authorities tried to provide the couple with a more naturalistic
environment. Their enclosure was upgraded and elaborately 'furnished' for
them to loosen up. 

The 5,000-sq m area was provided with chopped tree trunks to serve as
settees, and a ramp-cum-platform to laze around in the winter sun.
"Besides, they were given a regular dose of vitamins and other tonic to
increase their stamina. But evidently, all efforts had failed to show any
positive results," said Bonal. 

According to zoo officials, the 'Chandigarh attraction' was procured under
the Breeding Loan Scheme among zoos wherein the first offspring will have
to be handed over to the Chhatbir zoo.  
 
 

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