Summary:
Navin Kumkar , retired deputy director of Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, who is heading the relocation operation, said it would take at least three days for both elephants to reach Visakhapatnam zoo. The couple gave birth to baby elephant named Laxmi on November 9, 1997.While the male elephant died on August 9, 2000, two female elephants continue to await freedom in the wake of CZAI framing new rules. The fresh air during the travel coupled with regular feed will ensure pleasant journey for both elephants," he said.The local zoo had witnessed arrival of a male elephant Shankar and female elephant Swaraswati from Mysore on August 1, 1996. "We do not foresee any issues during transportation as both elephants are in good health. AURANGABAD: After being confined for years in local zoo having enclosure of inadequate size in violation of norms, 52-year-old elephant Saraswati and her female calf Laxmi were shifted to Visakhapatnam zoo in Andhra Pradesh en route of Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary , on Sunday.A day after calf given tough time to zoo authorities by refusing to get into the truck arranged for her transportation despite administered with standing sedation, officials finally used crane to lift her and load into the vehicle, on Sunday morning.As team of six officials from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana along with the local zoo staff could finally load both elephants into separate vehicles, the jumbos set off for "journey of freedom" of 1,200 kilometer between Aurangabad and Visakhapatnam.While the estrous cycle of Laxmi has stopped two years ago, nearly full grown Saraswati is expected to form pairing with male at her new destination.Taking note of TOI report that highlighted blatant violation of Central Zoo Authority (CZA) rules in local zoo while confining elephants in insufficient space, Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court had recently initiated suo motu PIL for release of elephants..