Bonfires, blankets keeping zoo animals warm
Agartala: Zoo authorities of the Sipahijala Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura have been regularly organizing bonfire near animal enclosures to protect them from the cold. Besides lighting bonfire, dry straw mats and blankets were being given to almost all animals, some specially made sheets were being given to the lions and tigers and quilts to the monkeys, official sources said on Sunday. This week mercury dipped to 9 degrees and an accompanying cold breeze made the winter harsh for the animals, they said. The Wildlife Sanctuary now hosts new-borns of three endangered animals, clouded leopard, pig-tailed macaque and spectacle monkey. Of the 42 national breeding centers in the country, this sanctuary situated roughly 18 km from here, was assigned by the Central Zoo Authority of India to breed four animals prone to extinction. Another endangered animal Binturong, also known as bearcat, is yet to give birth to a baby in the breeding centre, officials said. Indira Gandhi zoological park at Vishakapattanam has agreed to give two white Royal Bengal tigers and three four horned deer in exchange of two pig tailed Macaque bear and a clouded leopard, Assistant Wild Life Warden Ajit Bhaumick said. A clouded leopard’s average life span is 12 to 15 years. There are three female clouded leopards and as many males in the breeding centre, Bhaumick said. (PTI)
Fire guts 2 houses in Nagaland
Kohima: A major fire incident was averted at Chumukedima town under Dimapur district on Saturday, before it spread to the entire housing area, however, two houses were razed by the fire. According to personnel of fire service station at Chumukedima, the fire, started at Chumukedima Ward – III when the occupants of the houses went for marketing at the Saturday Bazaar in the town when the incident occurred. Some of the neighbours informed the fire service when they noticed smokes billowing out from the locked houses, but the fire had completely gutted two houses. (UNI)
Two children die after eating ‘prasad’
Agartala: Two children died and 30 people were hospitalized after eating ‘prasad’ in Tripura, an official said on Saturday. Ten of them are reportedly in critical condition. A total of 32 people, including children and women, took ill after eating ‘prasad’ in Dharmanagar in northern Tripura Friday night, a health department spokesman told the media. “Two of the children died while others are being treated in a government hospital,” the spokesman said. The incident took place in Maheshpur village, 195 km north of here. (IANS)