Fight for female @ zoo
It’s mating season again and the stags are slugging it out.The season, like always, is proving to be bloody for camels and deers in the Corporation Zoo at VOC Park here since males outnumber females.The officials are left helpless since space constraints stops them from adding more females.A week back, a male camel sustained injuries below its eyes after a fight with another male. The zoo officials had a tough time separating the two.“There is only one female camel to the three male in the zoo. So, such fights are natural during mating season between September and December,” said a zoo official.“The wounds would be cured by application of medicines. The injury is minor,’’ said the Zoo Director, Dr. S Thirukumaran.The zoo has 300 birds in 27 different species and 380 animals, including mammals and reptiles. The four-acre spread is inadequate as the animal and bird population has increased lately.The number of visitors has also increased—touching six lakh last year, bringing in revenue to the tune of Rs 33 lakh, Thirukumaran pointed out. Despite this, the zoo authorities are not able to bring more animals for want of space.Coimbatore Corporation had identified 32 acres in Kavundampalayam near Thudiyalur for shifting the zoo. However, the proposal has been hanging fire for several years now. Corporation Commissioner P. Muthuveeran said the process of shifting is on and it would be expedited in three months.
