Guyana to get lions, other animals in animal swap with Britain

Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 March 2016, 7:32 by Denis Chabrol

The zoos in Guyana and Britain are continuing arrangements to swap animals to the benefit of the Zo0ological Park in the Botanical Gardens.

Four manatees will be loaned from Guyana to the Hyde Park Zoo in exchange for three zebras, one pair of antelopes, and a pair of lion cubs, two peacocks and two ostriches.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) said those exchanges between the Guyana Zoological Park and the Hyde Park Zoo Sanctuary and Tropical Gardens of Great Britain would fructify in the coming months.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman assured that the programme has not been put on the back-burner.

“That programme of course is still ongoing, but there were a few hiccups, but it has not been shelved at all.”

He said the idea is to restore the Zoological Park and the Botanical Gardens to a pristine state in keeping with the Administration’s thrust for a greener environment and economy.

Recently, ExxonMobil donated GYD$30M towards the rehabilitation of the local zoo.  Twenty million ($20M) of that sum will go towards the restoration of the Botanical Gardens.  Installation of outdoor lights along the road leading to the parking lot will extend visitor hours beyond sundown. A waterfall feature at the entrance of the gardens will be created, and the Victoria Lily pond will be enlarged, deepened and landscaped for a better promotion of the rare Victoria Amazonica, Guyana’s national flower.

A catalogue of key plant species has been completed with the creation of botanical labelling and signage which will be used to prepare mounted labels on tree/plant specimens in the Botanical Gardens. A brochure and map will also be produced to facilitate self-guided “plant walks” around the gardens.