Some of the zoo's young carnivores will get new mates. Says Dr Brij Raj Sharma, the Director of the National Zoological Park: ``The idea is infuse some fresh blood into the animals. The zoo is a small world, where life multiplies within its limited confines. But gradually, down the line, to avoid any problems for the animals, we are getting some more animals into the family.''

Therefore, soon one white male tiger will be joining the younger female from Bhubaneshwar. According to the zoo officials, the white tiger was first acquired by the zoo in the year 1965. And in the following years the breed grew mainly through the process of inbreeding. ``Time and again, we have been getting new blood for breeding from outside to ensure that there was no trouble with the ensuing breeds. But yes, it is after a long period (and at least five years of temporary breeding) that we are getting a new breed on a permanent stance,'' informed an official. The white tiger is not to be the only one of the new entrants. The zoo will also be acquiring two pairs of Asiatic lions, a pair of wolves and four Chausinghas from the Junagarh Zoo.

Says Sharma, who was instrumental in getting the zoo its first pair of Giraffes after a long stretch of 23 years just last month: ``We decided to wait for the first showers before welcoming our new members in the family. Though the animals are all ready to be transported with all formalities complete, we decided to postpone their arrival as it would not be fair on them to displace them and make travel in this scorching heat.'' Among its present members, the zoo has two female lions. The additional two pairs would mean that the male-female ratio of species in the zoo would now be 1:2. According to the officials, the last time the zoo acquired the Asiatic lions was in 1985-86 and it was only recently, when the male died, that the need to make an addition was felt.

Likewise, the new pair of wolves means company to the lone female wolf residing in the zoo. The female has been residing alone in the zoo for the past four years. The Chausinghas, however, are another new brand addition to the zoo environs. The last pair died over a decade ago, said the officials. And on the cards is also the introduction of Nilgiri langoors from Madras Zoo, bison from Mysore Zoo, the leopard cat from Patna Zoo, and another species of jungle cat from Guwahati, Sharma informed. However, he added: ``This is just the planning stage. We have written to them, but their acceptance isyet to come. And till that happens we cannot be sure.'' Earlier, the zoo had acquired two baby African elephants from Zimbabwe in October 1998.

Also in the planning stage is the dream to acquire an Ostrich and a Zebra from Pakistan. ``It's a dream because we are not at all sure about the response we'll get from various authorities. However, with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee having opened the roads of friendship and communication between the two countries, we are hopeful,'' he added.