| 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nilgiri Langur | 2 | Nilgiri Langur | 1 | Nilgiri Langur | 2 |
| Lion tailed Macaque | 2 | Lion tailed Macaque | 2 | Lion tailed Macaque | 6 |
| Lion | 1 | Tiger | 4 | Tiger | 2 |
| Indian Gaur | 4 | Lion | 3 | Indian Gaur | 5 |
| Rhesus macaque | 4 | Royal Bengal Tiger | 1 | Hippopotamus | 2 |
| Hippopotamus | 1 | Indian Gaur | 4 | Hyena | 3 |
| Swamp Deer | 1 | Wild Ass | 1 | Wild dog | 5 |
| Wild boar | 4 | Swamp deer | 3 | Swamp deer | 3 |
| Indian Wolf | 5 | Black buck | 10 | Black buck | 1 |
| Jungle Cat | 3 | Indian Gaur | 3 | Nilgai | 4 |
| Ostrich | 6 | Wild Boar | 6 | Barking Deer | 1 |
| Alexandrine Parakeet | 14 | Grey wolf | 7 | Grey wolf | 7 |
| Painted stork | 20 | Jungle cat | 2 | Wild Boar | 1 |
| Budgerigars | 8 | Ostrich | 8 | Ostrich | 22 |
| Grey heron | 20 | Silver Diamond Dove | 6 | Common peafowl | 5 |
| Blue and Yellow macaw | 2 | Alexandrine Parakeet | 3 | White peafowl | 2 |
| Night heron | 50 | Rose Ringed Parakeet | 4 | Painted stork | 20 |
| Little Egret | 30 | Night heron | 40 | Night heron | 70 |
| Painted stork | 10 | Painted stork | 25 | Gharial | 9 |
| Budgerigars | 10 | ||||
| Gharial | 9 | ||||
| Green Iguana | 2 | ||||
Lion tailed macaque is one of the most critically endangered indigenous species to the tropical rain forests of the Western Ghats in South West India. The maintenance of Viable population of endangered species representing their genetic viability in the wild is a major goal of the Zoological Park. In order to safe guard this species Arignar Anna Zoological Park, submitted a project on conservation breeding programme for LTM in collaboration with SACON, WII and other South Indian zoos Viz., Mysore zoo and Trivandrum zoo to the Central Zoo Authority for funding the project. The proposal envisaged establishment of five social groups in 3 zoos, designing of appropriate enclosure and monitoring social behavioral and reproductive health of the group and training of zoo personal. The project has been approved by the Central Zoo Authority. Two off exhibit water moated enclosures have been built for Lion tailed macaque away from the visitor area to promote natural behavior and fit for reintroduction programme.
This species has also been designated to Arignar Anna Zoological Park as species coordinator. It is the only zoo where regular breeding is ensured.
This species has also been designated to Arignar Anna Zoological Park as species co-ordinator. No animal is available in the Park. Steps have been initiated to procure the animals.
Many species like Indian Bison, Deer species, Indian Rock python, Reticulated python, Painted stork, Night heron, Egrets, Ibis, Grey heron, Grey Pelicans are regularly breeding.
Tigers are at the apex of the food pyramids and serve as umbrella species for the entire eco-system. While in-situ conservation of endangered species is in the protocol of the Protected Areas, Zoological Parks are mandated to complement and strengthen the national efforts in conservation of endangered species. Zoological parks provide with facilitates like co-ordinated breeding and raising stocks for rehabilitating them in wild as and when it is appropriate and desirable.
Arignar Anna Zoological Park has 2 numbers of normal colour tigers and 13(3:10) numbers of white tigers. The white tigers are neither sub-species nor albinos. Both normal coloured and white tigers belongs to Royal Bengal tiger species. However, white tigers suffer from certain genetical disorders added to their low immunity levels. To save the population collapse of white tigers, Arignar Anna Zoological Park has embarked on the initiative of improving the vitality in the genetic profile of the white tigers by purifying tiger lineages by practicing out-crossing of white tigers to unrelated normal tigers for fitness recovery of the Tiger species.
Arignar Anna Zoological Park has a potential male normal coloured tiger. It was decided to out-cross the male with the captive born white tigresses. Out-crossing the normal coloured male tiger with female white tigress results in heterozygous normal coloured F1 offsprings. The first attempt was made in 2012 which resulted in the birth of three heterozygous tiger cubs. First time in the history of Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, such a feat was achieved. These cubs were named by the then Hon'ble Chief Minister as a ‘Vidhya’, ‘Arthi’ and ‘Nethra’ on 15.05.2013. Following this out-crossing of tigers the following tiger births were recorded at AAZP,
1. Two normal coloured cubs were born on 23.03.2014 and these cubs were named by the then Hon'ble Chief Minister as ‘Karnaa’ and ‘Aadhithyaa’.
2. Four heterozygous tiger cubs have born in AAZP. These cubs were named by Hon'ble Chief Minister as ‘Anitha’, ‘Preetha’, ‘Suneetha’ and ‘Sangeetha’ on 17.06.2015.
3. Four more heterozygous tiger cubs have born on 16.10.2015 and named by Hon’ble Chief Minister as Nakula, Deva, Mala and Kala.
4. Heterozygous tiger cub born on 8.8.2018, named by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamilnadu as ‘Rithvik’
5. Two heterozygous tiger cubs and one white tiger cub born on 9.1.2019, named by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamilnadu as Yuga, Mithran and Venmathi in 1:2 ratio
By adopting this innovative strategy, the zoo has now 17(6:11) genetically superior heterozygous normal coloured tiger cubs which would prevent the decades of incestuous breeding of white tigers that resulted in sterility, shortened lifespan, vision abnormalities, weakened immunity, poor lactation etc.,
