Nandankanan Zoo turns into 'maternity ward'

Bhubaneswar, Mar 6 (UNI) The Nandankanan Zoo has virtually turned into a maternity ward, with 144 births during the current year, including 20 in the last one month.

Nandankanan Zoo Director Ajit Kumar Patnaik described the event as the testament of a progressive zoo.

''Reproductive health is a good indicator of the overall status of health of a species in captivity,'' he claimed.

There is every reason to cheer at Nandankanan Zoo as it is now teeming with new borns, including two cuddly tiger cubs and an Indian Pangolin, Mr Patnaik said.

''One would feel as if the entire zoo has turned into a maternity ward,'' he said.

Nandankanan Zoo has the rare distinction of successful rearing and captive breeding of highly threatened species like the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata).

Till first week of March there had been 144 births. These included 72 mammals, 58 birds and 12 reptiles.

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