Absence of crowd pullers affecting footfalls in Delhi Zoo

The National Zoological Park in Delhi has reopened following a bird flu scare but itr appears to be losing out on footfalls because of absence of major crowd pullers like giraffe, zebra, kangaroo, ostrich, King Cobra etc in the zoo.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 5 February 2017.

As visitors say - the snake house had hardly any snakes and the animals that are there looked "shabby and weak" like the crocodiles.
An official of the zoo has explained that all animal exchange programs have come to a halt after the bird flu scare. The zoo is currently under scrutiny and it will take some time to get back on track. The officials are confident that major species will be brought to the park soon. This zoo is one of the largest in the country and it came under a cloud last year after the death of 13 free ranging birds, including rosy pelicans, ducks and painted storks. They died due to H5N8 Avian influenza.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

New luxury cruise liner Seabourn Encore is labeled as 'sexiest ship at sea'

Mahatma Gandhi’s samadhi at Rajghat gets a new look

200-year-old banyan tree uprooted by cyclone Vardah replanted in Chennai


The curse of social media – cold blooded murders committed

Saraswati Puja means entering a new phase of life

Moody on UFO, Mangalyaan and Moon Mission for monkey baat (satire)


Naomie Harris gets Oscar nomination in the best-supporting actress category for Moonlight

Nicole Kidman could earn $8 million if she writes her autobiography

Sets of the film Padmavati in Jaipur vandalised, Bhansali cancels shooting


Mayor of London worried about ISIS attacks on the city

Militants in Indonesia looking for women terrorists

Six people shot dead by gunmen in a mosque in Quebec City during evening prayers

People in Delhi are missing the popular boat ride at Purana Quila

It has now been over 100 days that the people of Delhi are missing out on the popular boat ride at Purana Quila. This is a popular tourist site and has remained closed all winter. The neighboring Delhi zoo is now open to the public, after having been kept out of bounds following a bird flu scare, but the boat club wears a sorry look with boats stacked together and the water body all dried up.
The Purana Quila lake sourced water from the Yamuna and through borewell and on average attracted 2,000-4,000 visitors daily. But, it has missed out on the annual high of footfall that is seen during the annual trade fair held at Pragati Maidan nearby and New Year. On those occasions, the footfall goes up to 7,000 on an average.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 22 January 2017.

The boating previously used to earn ₹ 6 lakh per month on an average and during the peak season it would go up to ₹ 9 lakh. Its monthly electricity bill to maintain the facility comes to around ₹ 45,000 and with 70 boats, it has assets worth ₹ 2 crore that is lying unused.
Incidentally, it is very popular with children who come during the summer and winter vacation and spend an entire day here. Children go to the Delhi Zoo nearby and then come for a boat ride which is a clean, affordable place for the middle class. The place helps children be close to nature and also out of harms way of malls.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

CISF prevents students of Manipur from entering the Taj Mahal

Kolkata to soon get rice and fish curry for Rs 21 at selected outlets

Bhilai tries to set five world records in Yoga with one lakh people participating


In the wonderland of women centric products

In the wonderland of banyans and messages

In the wonderland of toothpastes


Avatar star Zoe Saldana in Ben Affleck's Live By Night

Vin Diesel and Deepika Padukone in Mumbai to promote XXX: Return of Xander Cage

Aamir Khan's Dangal expected to cross Rs 100 crore in first weekend


Migrant boat capsizes off Libya's coast - 100 feared dead

Defensive anti-aircraft missiles around Moscow in preparation for a war?

US army veteran shoots dead five persons in Fort Lauderdale airport, Florida

Delhi Zoo reopens after 84 days following closure due to avian flu

On October 19, the Delhi Zoo had been declared a quarantine zone and was made strictly off limits for the general public due to fears of avian flu when 19 birds died due to avian influenza virus. The zoo has, now, been reopened after 84 days and a total of 6,020 people visitors came on the opening day.
The zoo has yet to go digital and, as of now, cash will be the only medium for entry fee payment.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 11 January 2017.

The zoo was surprised with the number of visitors who came on the first day and feel that this is a healthy trend. It still does not have the break-up of the visitors in terms of adults, children and foreigners and also on the monetary collections from the ticket sales.
All exhibits were open for the general public except the pond which houses three chicks of Pelican. Staff vehicles are also not being allowed in the area and the same routine will be followed for a month or two.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

30th International kite festival in Gujarat, Telangana, Delhi and Karnataka

McDonald's enters The Vatican with an outlet near St. Peter's Square

Steel mugs in lavatories of trains stolen in spite of being chained to the walls


Lord Shiva laments over full Moon and a burnt roti (satire)

Didi’s Rose garden withers in the valley (satire)

Moody in the world of pickpockets and beggars (satire)


Juhi Chawla creates awareness about ill effects of plastic pollution

Nawazuddin Siddiqui on his film 'Haraamkhor' that premiered in the 15th annual New York Indian Film Festival

9th edition of Jaipur International Film Festival will screen 134 films


Car bomb kills at least 43 in the town of Azaz in Syria - most of the dead are civilians

US army veteran shoots dead five persons in Fort Lauderdale airport, Florida

Prison riots in Brazil leave at least 60 dead - some were beheaded

Delhi Zoo sees birth of more than 500 painted storks

Delhi zoo has seen birth of more than 500 local migratory 'painted stork' this breeding season. Normally, a batch of 800-1,000 painted storks arrive every year and it has counted counted more than 500 eggs this season and expect the figure to climb up in the next few days.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 20 November 2016.

Delhi Zoo had been struck by bird flu and lost 20 birds in the last few months - these include caged birds like munia, grey partridge and ringneck parrots died in the last few months. The death of 13 water birds, including painted storks, ducks and rosy pelicans have been confirmed as casualties of H5N8 avian influenza.
The zoo has been closed for more than a month now and is using the time to work out its Master Plan 2031.
The garden is being renovated and its winter plan for animals is also being implemented. Under this plan, heaters have been installed. Wooden platforms are being set up for carnivorous animals and paddy straws have been brought for chimpanzees and deer.
As per the winter dietary plans - all the animals are being given 50 grams of gooseberry (Amla) every day as a vitamin supplement. In addition, the meat intake has been increased to 1-2 kgs and animals like chimpanzees are given bread pieces dipped in honey to keep them warm. Seasonal fruits have also been included in their diet.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

British Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to India - mango and visa on the agenda

Air India Express to provide improved air connectivity between Kolkata and Singapore

Mamata Banerjee to visit the United States in 2017 to woo industries


Lord Shiva’s views on Kalighat and marriages (satire)

Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Didi’s idea - deflate tyres to punish unruly drivers (satire)


Iraq special forces advanced into Mosul while ISIS militants killed 20

British police have foiled 12 terror plots against Britain in the last three years

No-fly zones to be imposed over jails to prevent drones from being used to smuggle drugs into prisons


Michael Fassbender says no to next James Bond - will a woman take over?

Second trailer of Wonder Woman released- will be in the cinemas in July 2017

Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) begins 11 November