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Karthikeya
vanam
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| The
Peacock enclosure in the zoo is called the Karthikeya
vanam . 'Mayura' is the Sanskrit name for the peacock
. The peacock has been mentioned quite frequently in our ancient
writings . It is also associated with Lord Karthikeya who
is depicted with a peacock as his vehicle, hence the name
'Karthikeya vanam' is given to this enclosure. Lord Krishna
is depicted with peacock feathers in his crown . |
Karthikeya
vanam - the peacock enclosure |
Common
peafowl |
Common
peafowl
Scientific
name:
Pavo
cristatus.
The male has a glistening blue neck and breast, wire-like
crest and very long distinctive tail , while the female lacks
the blue neck and long train . It has browner plumage on the
breast.They are gifted with keen eyesight and hearing.
Food:
seeds,berries,shoots and tubers, insects, lizards,small snakes
and worms.
Voice:
loud
'may-you' calls at dawn and dusk.It also gives out loud nasal
calls and cackles and tends to very noisy during rains and
breeding time.
Range: All India, from
about 2000 meters in Himalayas.
Habitat:
forest,neighborhood of villages and cultivated country. |
The
rare white peacock |
Demoiselle
crane |
Demoiselle crane:
Scientific name :
Anthropoides
virgo.
Both sexes are alike. Overall plumage is grey with black
head and neck. Prominent white ear-tufts, long black feathers
of lower neck falling over breast and the brownish-grey
secondaries that are sickle shaped and drooping over the
tail are its identification marks.
Food:
Wheat,
paddy and gram.
Voice:
high-pitched, sonorous 'krook...krook...' calls.
Ranges:
common
winter visitor in north west India and over east Rajasthan,
Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
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The
Spotted billed Pelican enclosure , which is an open pond
has been named the 'Kalindi Sarovar'.
Kalindi is the name of the lake near Gokul where a snake-demon
'Kalindi sarpam' lived with his wives. His poison would
kill many innocent humans and animals who would enter
that area in search of water. One day , Krishna and his
companions took their cattle to that area for grazing.
After a while some of the boys decided to take a refreshing
bath in the lake , unaware of the hidden danger. When
the Demon-snake attacked the boys Lord Krishna came to
their rescue , he fought and eventually killed the snake
and saved everyone.
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Kalindi
sarovar |
Spotted
billed pelican |
Spotted billed pelican or Grey pelican
Scientific name : Pelecanus
phileppensis (roseus)
Both sexes are alike. Whitish plumage sullied with grey-brown,
it is pink on the lower back, rump and flanks. The back
of the head has a white tipped brown crest and the flesh
coloured gular pouch having a bluish-purple wash as the
identity of this bird.Blue spots on the upper mandible
and the gular pouch can be observed and thus their name
goes well with them.
Food : Fish .
Range:
breeds in well-watered parts of south, southeast and east
India.
Habitat:
large jheels and lakes.
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Padmakheli
sarovar
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The
White necked stork enclosure has been named the Padmakheli
sarovar.
This is a the name of the lake mentioned in the Panchatantra.
The Padmakheli lake was the home for many beautiful birds
and fish . This small kingdom was ruled by a swan called 'Hiranyaarbha'
. Vishnusharma the author of the Panchatantra uses this mythical
kingdom to describe the principles and ethics of politics
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Padmakheli sarovar |
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White-necked stork:
Scientific name : Ciconia
episcopus
Both sexes are alike and they are large black and white
storks with red legs.They have glossy crowns, back,breast
and huge wings that are black in color.These parts have
distinct purple-green sheen. The neck, lower abdomen and
under tail coverts are white in color.The bill is long,
stout and black and occasionally with a crimson tinge.
Food
: lizards,
frogs, crabs and large insects.
Voice
: only
clattering of mandibles.
Range:
All India upto 1400 meters in the Himalayas.
Habitat:
Marshes, cultivation and wet grasslands.
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