A rare black jaguar couple at the Lahore Zoo Safari will be undergoing various tests for the assessment of their fertility as they have been unable to reproduce despite being together for several years. Since the couple is the only one of its kind in Pakistan, the zoo is making efforts to increase their numbers.
Sources said the couple was brought to the Lahore Zoo Safari in 2015. Despite being in good health and living together for the past five years, the Jaguars have failed to reproduce. Deputy Director of Lahore Zoo Safari Sheikh Zahid told The Express Tribune that a few days ago, Professor Asim from the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore and his team examined the Jaguar couple and suggested a DNA test.
“Both the male and the female jaguar will be tested separately. The DNA test will determine if the couple can reproduce and what changes will be required in their environment and diet accordingly,” Sheikh Zahid said.
Sheikh Zahid added that black Jaguars are worth Rs15 million and are among the most dangerous beasts in the world.
“They belong to the family of leopards. They are native to the United States, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia.”
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), black jaguars are not only rare but they are also endangered with only about 600 of them existing in the wild. They are the second most dangerous beasts after lions. In terms of their diet, they consume eight kilograms of meat on a daily basis.
According to Sheikh Zahid, the black jaguar is ranked third among Big Cats and can also hunt crocodiles. Unlike other big cats, jaguars are not scared of water. In fact, they are strong swimmers and climbers because of which they need a large area of tropical rain forest and stretches of the riverbank to survive when living in the wild.
“They are also very dangerous. Employees at the zoo are often scared of going near their enclosure to feed them because as soon as they see humans, they start roaring in anger,” he said. “However, the staffers are properly trained, and they follow all the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to feed the beasts safely.
To protect this rare breed from extreme weather conditions, like high temperatures, ice is placed in their cages every day and an air cooler has also been installed.
“Dozens of trees are planted in their enclosure to provide protection from sunlight,” Sheikh Zahid said.
According to the management of Lahore Zoo Safari, several attempts have been made by to ensure that the mating of the couple takes place at the right time and the female can get pregnant, but so far, there has been no success.
“We have now sought the expertise and services of veterinary experts and we are hoping for the best,” Sheikh Zahid concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2020.
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Good luck. We wish the couple good luck is well.