12 bird species at Pilikula Zoo live alone, awaiting companions
Solitary species at zoos often show signs of depression, are harder to manage: Activists
Mangaluru: Amid the vibrant life of Pilikula Biological Park, home to over 1,000 animals and birds, 12 bird species are quietly enduring loneliness, kept without companions, raising concerns about their welfare and the challenges of pairing captive birds.
According to the Pilikula Biological Park’s inventory, as cited by The New Indian Express on Tuesday, the lone birds include the White‑Bellied Sea Eagle, White Scavenger Vulture, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Cockatoo Galah, Sri Lankan Bay Owl, Grey Horned Owl, Blue Rock Pigeon, Fantail Pigeon, Black Swan, Green Turaco, Violet Turaco, and Silver Pheasant.
Activists quoted in the report warn that animals kept without mates often show signs of depression and are harder to manage. One activist also claimed that an Egyptian Vulture has had no companion in the zoo for three years.
“As per the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) guidelines, no animal or bird should be kept without a companion for more than six months, and if not, they must arrange a companion,” TNIE quoted Dinesh Holla, a wildlife activist, as saying.
Raju Kidoor, a conservationist and bird expert, emphasised the emotional stress caused to certain species. He said that White‑Bellied Sea Eagles and Malabar Grey Hornbills are highly family‑oriented birds. “Without companions, we cannot get to see their usual activities. They do not change their companion, hence finding a pair for such birds is not easy,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
Dr Arun Shetty, Commissioner of the Pilikula Development Authority, confirmed that the zoo has submitted a proposal to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) under its animal‑exchange programme to bring in suitable partners for the solitary birds.
He added that some of these birds are rescues that cannot be released into the wild, which makes finding mates more challenging.
On a positive note, Shetty shared that the zoo recently received around 15 new animals through the programme. “The sloth bear at the zoo was without a companion for more than a year. Now, under the animal exchange program, we managed to get a pair of sloth bears. Similarly, we are trying to get mates for other solo animals and birds,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
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ED attaches fresh assets in PMLA case against Reliance Group; total attachment over Rs 10K cr
New Delhi (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate has attached fresh assets worth Rs 1,120 crore as part of its money laundering probe against the companies of Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani, officials said.
Eighteen properties, including the Reliance Centre in Mumbai's Ballard Estate, fixed deposits, bank balance and shareholding in unqouted investments of Reliance Anil Ambani Group have been provisionally attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said.
Another set of seven properties of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd, two properties of Reliance Power Ltd, nine properties of Reliance Value Service Private Ltd, fixed deposits in the name of Reliance Value Service Private Ltd, Reliance Venture Asset Management Private Lt, Phi Management Solutions Private Ltd, Adhar Property Consultancy Pvt Ltd, Gamesa Investment Management Private Ltd and investments made in unquoted investment by Reliance Venture Asset Management Private Ltd and Phi Management Solutions Private Ltd have also been attached, they said.
The ED had earlier attached properties worth over Rs 8,997 crore in the bank fraud cases related to Reliance Communications Ltd (RCOM), Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd, and Reliance Home Finance Ltd.
The total attachment in the case against the Reliance Group is now Rs 10,117 crore.
