The panthers belong to the Jammu and Kashmir Wild Life department.

Zoo director Dr Vinod Sharma said the panthers, one male and female, have been brought to the zoo for breeding in order to change the blood line of the panthers here. As the panthers at the zoo have been mating within the same family, some deformities were reported. So it was decided to change the blood line and bring panthers from outside the family.

Under the breeding loan scheme, the animal remains the property of the concerned authority. Zoos can only take them for breeding. They either have to return the animals after some time or give the newborn cubs back.

The male is six years old and the female, five years old. Both looked exhausted after the overnight journey from Jammu in a truck. At around noon when they were unloaded from the truck, they resisted. The female was easily handled and transferred from the small cage to the big one in the zoo, but the male growled. He was sent in only after a tough fight.

The director said that they will be kept in the cage for at least a month till they get used to the atmosphere and the other panthers. Only then will they be released, otherwise they might fight and injure themselves or die.