Chennai Zoo attempts social grouping of animals

This is the first time such an effort has been undertaken in the country, zoo officials said.

"This is an attempt to avoid animals leading a sedentary lifestyle in their enclaves. Also there are some disadvantages living alone for years together," they said.

Instead of keeping a single animal alone or just a pair in an enclave, zoo authorities have started social grouping where five to six animals of a species would be left together.

Bengal tigers, white tigers, cheetahs, hippopotamuses, small bears and monkeys have been put in groups in separate enclaves, they said.

AAZP, the largest zoological garden in the country spread over 1,490 acre land, houses 1,390 animals belonging to 143 different fauna species.