HYDERABAD — If you’ve been looking for a sign to plan a weekend trip to Bahadurpura, this is it.
Our very own Nehru Zoological Park is currently experiencing an unprecedented baby boom, welcoming over 50 newborn animals across its sprawling 380-acre campus over the last few months. The zoo is practically bursting with new life, making it the perfect time for Hyderabadis to revisit one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
Here is a look inside the zoo’s latest—and cutest—additions.
The Main Event: A Roaring Success for the Big Cats
The crown jewels of this recent birth boom are six adorable lion cubs! The new pride is split evenly between three African and three Asiatic lions.
According to zoo officials, the African cubs are just a month old, while their Asiatic cousins are hitting the two-month mark. All six are reported to be healthy, playful, and under the watchful, expert eye of the zoo’s veterinary team.
Why this is a big deal: This is one of the highest recorded numbers of lion births the zoo has seen in recent history. Even better? It’s a triumph for science. In the past, inbreeding led to genetic issues that caused the lions to suffer from weak hind legs during the winter. To fix this, the zoo smartly exchanged animals with other facilities to diversify the gene pool—and clearly, love found a way!
But the big cat celebration doesn’t stop there. The zoo also welcomed two new Bengal tiger cubs, boosting the zoo’s impressive stripes-and-shadows family to 10 Bengal Tigers and 10 White Tigers.
A Headcount of the New Kids on the Block
It isn’t just the apex predators getting all the attention. The entire campus has turned into a massive nursery this season. Visitors can expect to spot a whole range of tiny new trotters, flappers, and runners, including:
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🦌 9 Mouse Deer fawns (A species the zoo has successfully bred for over 20 years!)
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🖤 5 Black Buck fawns
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🪶 4 Ostrich chicks
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🐺 3 Jackal pups
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🦌 2 Hog Deer fawns
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🦚 2 Golden Pheasant chicks
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🫎 1 Chousingha (Four-horned antelope) and 1 Sambar Deer fawn
More Than Just a Pretty Zoo
While we get to enjoy the cuteness overload, there is serious work happening behind the scenes. This boom is a direct result of Telangana’s world-class conservation breeding programs.
“Our conservation and breeding are reaping good results,” says Dr. Sunil S. Hiremath, Director of Telangana Zoo Parks. “Not just taking up the breeding programmes, the zoo is also publishing the research work in reputed journals.”
So, Hyderabadis, it’s time to pack your cameras, put on your walking shoes, and head over to the Nehru Zoological Park to welcome the city’s newest, wildest residents.
