Kolkata, Dec 27 (IANS) The Alipore Zoological garden – a popular tourist destination here – has got three new leopards to replenish its falling stock of the big cat species.
‘The three leopards have been brought from the Khayerbari animal rescue centre in Jalpaiguri. They are aged between two and two and half years,’ Alipore Zoo Director Raju Das said Monday.
Of the three, two (Rahul and Jimmy) are males, and one (Mishti) female.
They were caught some time ago but were not returned to the jungles as they were too young.
‘We decided to bring them here as the zoo’s leopard population is not in proper health, because the three existing leopards are aged. As part of our effort to retain the minimum population of the species, we had to bring fresh animals,’ said Das.