LAHORE: Zoo will buy a little over 20 animals under the umbrella of pairing and new additions against a budget of Rs42 million, officials told Dawn.

Officials say the decision has been taken to resolve the chronic pairing issue at the zoo.

In a preliminary meeting in this regard headed by MNA Afzal Khokar, the Wildlife Steering Committee has given the go ahead to purchase animals for new inductions and to fill in the blanks when it comes to pairing.

A presentation on the issue has been made by Lahore Zoo Director Naeem Bhatti in a meeting and the steering committee approved the project.

The meeting has recently been held in December. As a follow-up to that meeting, another meeting of Zoo Management Committee is being held on Jan 26 which will be headed by the wildlife DG. The meeting will accord final approval to pairing and new additions project.

After the tendering process, hopefully the new league of animals would reach Lahore Zoo by mid-March.

The animals which are being bought and some are being brought at Lahore Zoo under the exchange programme include a pair of white lion, a pair of black leopard, a female giraffe, a female rhino, Columbus monkeys and brow bear.