Nandankanan Zoo gates were closed for an unusual reason: wild elephants had gate crashed and decided to pay a visit to their neighbours. That's precisely what happened on Sunday, creating a bit of excitement and a temporary delay for visitors. It seems two elephants from the nearby Chandaka forest found their way in, causing a stir and showcasing the ongoing challenge of keeping wildlife boundaries secure.
The zoo, usually bustling with activity, had to keep its gates shut for about an hour that morning. Before letting anyone in, the zoo's security team needed to locate the elephantine visitors and make sure they weren't causing any trouble or danger. It was a bit of a real-life adventure safari for the zoo authourity.
These weren't the zoo's resident elephants; these were wild visitors from the Chandaka forest. Early in the morning, they managed to break through the boundary wall in two places near the Daruthenga area. Thankfully, they didn't cause any significant damage inside the zoo, though they did make it all the way to the safari ticket counter (leaving some "evidence" of their visit behind!).
Once it was light, the elephants retreated into a smaller forested area within the zoo, between two watchtowers. This allowed the zoo staff to open the gates to the public around 9 AM, after a one-hour delay. The zoo workers kept a close eye on the elephants throughout the day, planning to guide them back to the Chandaka forest late at night. This isn't the first time this has happened. There are spots in the outer boundary where the elephants can get in due to weak constructed boundary walls.
Bundle of Joy (and a Monkey's Ailment)
But the elephant adventure wasn't the only news at Nandankanan. In a much quieter corner of the zoo, there was a happy arrival. A civet cat, housed in the quarantine area, gave birth to three healthy babies. Both the mother and her little ones are doing well.
On the not-so-good-news front, an older male baboon, living in the old quarantine center, has fallen ill. He seems to have trouble with his hind legs and is dragging himself around, leading some to suspect he might have suffered a paralysis for which the veterinarians are taking care of him.
For the road
The day at Nandankanan was a mix of the unexpected and heartwarming. The elephant visit, which was quite disruptive, and the birth of the civet kittens reminded us the constant cycle of life.
