Pilikula park to get exotic birds, hippopotamuses soon

The Hindu

• The proposal is part of an animal exchange programme

 

Mangalore, 16 May 2011: Dr. Shivarama Karanth Biological Park at Pilikula here will shortly get a pair of hippopotamuses.

 

New home:An enclosure for exotic birds is getting ready at Dr. Shivarama Karanth Biological Park at Pilikula in Mangalore.

 

Director of the park H. J. Bhandary told The Hindu on Sunday that the park proposed to bring the animals under an animal exchange programme.

 

Bison

 

The park would also bring a pair of bison under the programme. The park proposed to bring two more bears under the programme, he said. The park now had two bears, he said.

 

Mr. Bhandary said that the park proposed to exchange animals with the Mysore zoo and the Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) in Bangalore.

 

The park proposed to send two mouse deer and two barking deer, four pythons, a few snakes and a palm civet to the Mysore zoo and the Bannerghatta National Park, Mr. Bhandary said.

 

Enclosures

 

“Enclosures for hippopotamuses and bison are ready at the park here,” he said. Mr. Bhandary said that the park would also get some exotic birds shortly. The park was constructing a separate enclosure to house birds such as macaw and cockatoo.

 

The biological park is spread over 82 hectares of land. It is part of Pilikula Nisargadhama which is spread over 370 acres of land.

 

Science centre

 

A regional science centre building is coming up at Nisargadhama.