Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma shares glimpses of his encounter with zoo inmates

On a heartwarming visit to the Assam State Zoo, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared tender moments with the zoo's newest and most celebrated resident, a giraffe calf named 'Parijat' along with other faunal inmates.

Taking to his X handle, Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote, "The Assam State Zoo is blessed with immense floral and faunal diversity and we are undertaking an ambitious redevelopment of the complex soon. Glimpses from my encounter with Parijat-the Giraffe, Orangutans and other faunal friends recently."

The female calf, which marks the first giraffe birth in the zoo, was born to a pair of giraffes that had been relocated to Guwahati under animal exchange programs. Unfortunately, after her birth, Parijat faced rejection from her mother and was unable to be nursed by her. 

However, the dedicated carers at the zoo, under the guidance of expert Tushar Kulkarni from Mumbai, stepped in to provide the necessary care, ensuring the calf thrived on 7.5 litres of milk daily.

Also Read: Assam's MBBS seats have surged from 200 to 1200: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

During his visit on December 9, 2023, CM Sarma was seen feeding Parijat with a bottle, a moment captured in photos and videos that later graced social media platforms. 

The name 'Parijat' was chosen through a lottery from nearly 350 suggestions received after the chief minister called for name ideas via social media. 

In addition to spending time with the young giraffe, CM Sarma also paid a courtesy call to two orangutans, Panoi and Jonki, who are among the rare species housed in the zoo and were recently rescued from smugglers.

The chief minister expressed his plans to develop the Guwahati Zoo into one of the country's finest, with a proposal of Rs 350 crore awaiting approval from the Finance department. 

This development is part of a broader vision to enhance the zoo's facilities and showcase more animals to the public. 

The visit by Himanta Biswa Sarma not only highlighted the zoo's conservation efforts but also underscored the bond between humans and animals, as seen in the gentle interaction between the chief minister and the giraffe calf Parijat.