Eight new varieties of exotic birds at Dr Shivaram Karanth Biological Park

Mangalore, June 14: It will be the chirps of truly exotic variety that will greet bird lovers when they visit the Dr Shivaram Karanth Biological Park at Pilikula near here on Tuesday. In a move aimed at augmenting the bird collection at the third largest biological park in Karnataka, the authorities at the park here have decided to introduce eight varieties of exotic birds for the first time in its history. The park already has 620 animals covering 77 species.

So come Tuesday one can now see the Blue Gold Macaw (scientific name Ara araruana), Green Wing Macaw (Ara cholropterus), Mutation Rose Ring Necked Parakeet (Psittacula Karameri), Citron Cocktoo (Cacatua sulphurea citinocristata), Congo African Grey (Psittacus erithacus), Sun Conure (Aratinga solstitiallis), Galah Cockatto (Eolothus roseicapilla) and the Channel Billed Toucan at specially designed enclosures up close and personal.

These exotic birds, H Jayaprakash Bhandary, director of the Park told TOI have been gifted by a Bangalore based exotic bird breeder Abdul Rahman Fayaz. He is a true bird lover and his only condition (while gifting the birds) was to allow him to visit the Park whenever he is in town to see how the birds are faring, Bhandary said. The Macaws and the Toucans would be in pairs and the other species of birds in numbers ranging from four to six each.

An important aspect considered while introducing these birds that have their origin in South and Central America, Northern area of South America, North and Central Africa, India, Myanmar and Southern China to name a few is their adaptability to the local environment. We have created enclosures in a manner that they mimic the natural biological requirements of these birds, Bhandary said adding that inputs from Fayaz have been of great help.

Once these exotic birds adjust to the local environment, park authorities also have plans to allow visitors to hold these trained birds on their hands and take photographs for a fee. This is something that we have in mind and could be a reality once the monsoon ends, he said. The exotic birds are locally bred by breeders such as Fayaz; he said adding plans are afoot to introduce Ostrich to the Park. A spacious enclosure is coming up for them, he added.