South Africa to export four cheetahs to Bangladesh in multimillion-taka conservation initiative
Photo Collected
The National Zoo in Dhaka is set to expand its collection with the arrival of four leopards from South Africa. Scheduled for delivery by June 10, the two male and two female leopards represent a significant effort by the government to enhance the facility’s biodiversity and conservation capabilities, with procurement costs totaling approximately 10.99 million taka.
Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Talukdar, the director of the National Zoo, confirmed that the contract for the acquisition was awarded to the local firm Falcon Traders. The animals are expected to be transported by air, following the formal approval granted by the Chief Conservator of Forests on May 18. The exporter in South Africa is currently finalizing the necessary regulatory clearances with local authorities to facilitate the shipment.
বিজ্ঞাপন
The move comes as the zoo seeks to replenish its predator population. The facility has been without a leopard since its previous inhabitant died two years ago due to hemorrhagic enteritis, a bacterial disease often contracted from soil. To mitigate health risks for the new arrivals, authorities are currently renovating the existing leopard enclosure. This process includes removing the top six inches of soil and replacing it with fresh, uncontaminated earth to prevent the recurrence of soil-borne pathogens.
Beyond the leopards, the zoo is also acquiring additional wildlife to bolster its existing herds. Two wildebeests and two common elands are being imported from South Africa at a combined cost of approximately 4.58 million taka. These acquisitions will bring the total number of wildebeests in the facility to four, helping to facilitate more sustainable breeding programs.
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Zoo officials noted that the import is necessary because domestic laws prohibit the capture and trade of native wildlife, making it difficult to source indigenous species from the wild. Consequently, officials argue that international procurement is the most viable path to maintaining a diverse range of animals for both public exhibition and conservation research.
While the zoo has seen successful breeding rates for species such as tigers, giraffes, and peacocks, management remains focused on filling gaps in its collection. This initiative marks the first major acquisition of exotic animals by the National Zoo since 2022, underscoring a strategic shift toward long-term population management and the preservation of rare species through captive breeding.
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