Barang: A mandarin duck died at Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) here Thursday. The zoo authorities, however, did not reveal anything about the cause of the death of the 10-month old male duck. With this, the number mandarin ducks at the NZP has come down to nine including three male and six female. Meanwhile, three male deer were sterilised at Nandakanan as part of the sterilisation drive. It was the 10th phase of the sterilisation drive and 36 male deer have been sterilised so far. Sources said the sterilisation was necessitated following a rise in the deer population at the zoo. Due to shortage of space, the rising population of deer hampers their movement in the enclosure. Earlier, many deer had reportedly died in conflict with one another. The sterilisation drive of male deer had begun November 15 last year. Now the NZP has 365 spotted deer including 92 male.
PNN