MoU Signed Between Mysore Zoo and Leipzig Zoo in Germany for Transporting Four Sloth Bears

Zoo authorities of the Mysore Zoo and Leipzig zoo in Germany signed a MoU on 1 December 2012 according to which four sloth bears will be transported to the zoo in Germany. Leipzig zoo in Germany is well known for its management of vulnerable nocturnal mammal. In return to transportation of these sloth bears, India will get access to expertise as well as knowledge of handling these bears. This is actually the primary feature of MoU which is signed between the zoos of two countries.

The Leipzig zoo and Central Authority Zoo signed the MoU for improvisation of management as well as cooperation of the population of captive animals. The primary agenda was conservation of the sloth bears.

Dr J Junhold, president of the Leipzig zoo elaborated on this plan and made it clear that the zoo in Germany required sloth bears for breeding and these bears were provided by the Mysore Zoo. The Leipzig zoo is responsible for management of these sloth bears since 1905. MoU would enable zoos in India to gain this expertise and knowledge.

Dr Junhold is also World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) president and he visited Delhi before the next conference of WAZA to be hosted in 2014.

Apart from the Mysore Zoo, six other Indian zoos were identified and these are Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, Mysore; Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad; Delhi Zoo; Assam State Zoo, Guwahati; Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai and the Nandankanan Zoological Park, Bhubaneswar.