Cooch Behar, July 14 (Siliguri Chronicle) – The Rasikbil Mini Zoological Park in Cooch Behar has received two fishing cats and 10 cockatiels as part of an animal exchange programme aimed at boosting conservation and attracting more visitors.
The new arrivals came from the Garchumuk Zoological Park in Howrah. In return, Rasikbil sent six gharials — a type of fish-eating crocodile — to Garchumuk.
“The birds and animals arrived safely on Friday and are currently in quarantine for acclimatisation. They will be made ready for public viewing soon,” said Bijan Kumar Nath, additional divisional forest officer of the Tufanganj wildlife division, which oversees the mini zoo located about 55km from Cooch Behar town.
Fishing cats, classified as a Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, have been brought from Howrah to Rasikbil for captive breeding. The zoo previously had only one fishing cat, adopted in December 2023 by Cooch Behar police chief Dyutiman Bhattacharya and his wife Roshni Das Bhattacharya.
Rasikbil Zoo, nestled amid natural wetlands and forests, houses a range of species including leopards, deer, pythons, peacocks, gharials, and now three fishing cats. With the arrival of cockatiels—small, colourful parrots native to Australia—zoo authorities hope to draw bird lovers and boost visitor numbers.
“The presence of the new species, especially exotic birds, enhances the educational and recreational value of the zoo,” a forest official said.
