The nursery corners of the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park have turned unusually busy this summer. Over the past few weeks, the zoo has recorded the birth of several animals and birds, including Indian grey wolves, Asiatic wild dogs, a striped hyena, spotted deer, a barking deer, marmoset and a range of avian species, giving a fillip to its ongoing conservation breeding programme.

For visitors walking through the zoo this season, the newest inhabitants are already drawing crowds near the enclosures, particularly during feeding hours when the young animals briefly emerge beside their watchful mothers.

Among the most closely watched arrivals are three Indian grey wolf pups. Listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, the Indian grey wolf remains one of the country’s highly protected carnivores. In the wild, shrinking habitats, declining prey base and frequent conflict with humans continue to weigh heavily on the species. Zoo officials say the birth of the pups was possible due to stable enclosure conditions, careful environmental enrichment and low-stress surroundings.

Equally notable is the birth of 10 Asiatic wild dogs, or dholes, a species categorised as Endangered. Known for their pack behaviour, dholes require tightly coordinated social structures for breeding and survival. The Visakhapatnam zoo is among the institutions recognised by the Central Zoo Authority for planned conservation breeding of the species. “We have been giving constant veterinary care, proper nutrition and carefully managing the packs,” says G Mangamma, curator of Indira Gandhi Zoological Park.

The zoo has also reported the birth of a striped hyena cub, a marmoset, eight spotted deer fawns and a barking deer fawn. In the aviary section, two grey pelicans, seven lutino parakeets and two rainbow lorikeets have added colour and activity to the enclosures.

Curator Mangamma says raising sensitive species such as marmosets requires closely regulated temperatures, stable social settings and specially designed diets.