Three zebras arrive at Keralam’s Thiruvananthapuram zoo from Gujarat

Thiruvananthapuram zoo experienced a golden Onam with the arrival of three zebras from Gujarat, marking their return to the facility after nearly a decade. The zebras, comprising one male and two females, journeyed from Gujarat's Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (Vantara) in Jamnagar by road in an animal ambulance. Zoo superintendent T.V. Anil Kumar accompanied the team from Vantara at Parassala to bring the animals under a police escort.

The decision to bring three zebras was made at the last minute, as the zoo aimed to maintain a sustainable herd population of two males for three females to ensure genetic diversity. This approach prevented the population from dwindling once the parents aged out of reproductive capacity, as Dr. Nikesh Kiran, the zoo veterinary surgeon, explained.

One of the female zebras was from a separate herd, which likely contributed to its minor injuries sustained during transportation. The animals, initially nervous due to their unfamiliarity with humans, quickly settled into the old giraffe enclosure while their dedicated enclosure was under construction. However, the stress of the two-and-a-half-day journey could lead to infections or capture myopathy, and the zebras were closely monitored for this risk.

They were administered injections for their wounds and provided with locally sourced hay, as well as salt licks and supplements to aid gut health.

Zoo director P.S. Manjula Devi noted that the zoo had long sought to add zebras and giraffes to its collection, but only this exchange with Vantara made it possible. In return, the city zoo is donating a king cobra and a lion-tailed macaque to Vantara.