Visitors to Bhopal’s Van Vihar National Park will now be greeted by Asiatic lions, which are anticipated to become a major draw for the people in the near future.
A Van Vihar official said, ‘A pair of lion and lioness has reached Van Vihar. Both the big cats are about three years old. They have been kept in a separate enclosure in Van Vihar for care and medical checkup. Currently, there are two lions and three lionesses in Van Vihar National Park.’
He said that in exchange for the pair of lions, a six-year-old tiger (Bandhavgarh-2) and tigress (Bandhni) have been given to Sakkarbagh Zoo in Junagarh, Gujarat from Van Vihar National Park.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav welcomed the Gir lions on the land of Madhya Pradesh and congratulated the people of the state and the officials of the Forest Department.
CM Dr. Yadav said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Madhya Pradesh is always ready for the conservation, promotion and rehabilitation of wildlife.
CM Mohan Yadav has expressed happiness over the entry of two Gir lions in the “Jungle Book” of Van Vihar. He said that with the arrival of two pure breed Asiatic lions from Sakkarbagh Zoo Junagadh (Gujarat) in Van Vihar, Bhopal under the Animal Exchange Program, a 16-year-old dream has come true.
CM Yadav said that now the lion family will definitely increase in the state and new doors of tourism and employment will open. The Van Vihar sent two tigers to Sakkarbagh Zoo under the Animal Exchange Programme.
