Sultan and Jamuna: Now in Bhopal

The Van Vihar National Park in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal city has become the new home to a pair of lions, which were rescued from a circus over four years ago and are relocated here as a part of the rehabilitation programme.

The majestic felines, a male named Sultan and a female named Jamuna, who were kept at the Kanan Pendari Zoo in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur District after being rescued from a circus in 2006 were brought to this place on Thursday.

"These lions have been brought in from Kanan Pendari Zoo at Bilaspur. The male lion is named Sultan and female one called by the name of Jamuna. They were kept there after their rescue from Raj Mahal Circus in 2006," said J S Chouhan, Director, Van Vihar National Park.

"Most of the lions, which were rescued from the circus, are already brought in here. Only these two were left and now under the instructions of the Central Zoo Authority they also have been shifted here," he added.

For around a month, this pair would be quarantined and kept under constant medical examination before letting them to join the pride of other lions at Van Vihar.

"Right now, we won't display them as for now. They would be kept in quarantine almost for a month. We maintain their veterinary records and according to that we would give all the required vaccinations," said Dr. P K Chandan, Veterinarian Kanan at the Pendari Zoo, Bilaspur.

"We would do what ever is required to do in the quarantine period," he added.


(ANI)