Mysuru: The plans of Mysuru Zoo authorities to send giraffes to Bannerghatta Biological Park and the faraway Nandankanan Zoological Gardens, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, hit a roadblock following the death of Krishnaraja, the oldest Giraffe early this morning. Krishnaraja was the centre of attraction at the Mysuru Zoo and was 21-years-old.

Krishnaraja was the fourth calf born on June 10, 1996 at the Mysuru Zoo to Henry and Honey who were brought from Germany Zoo on March 7, 1988. Honey gave birth to nine calves out of which the first three died as she did not take care of them.

Krishnaraja is Honey’s fourth calf that survived and was hand-reared by the Zoo staff. He has fathered eight calves. Two of them were born to Honey and they did not survive as they were weaklings. Four were born to Kushi and two of them were born to Lakshmi.

With the death of Krishnaraja, the Zoo’s plans to send a giraffe to Bannerghatta Biological Park might be delayed though a specially designed container has been procured to transport the animal to Bengaluru.

The Nandankanan Zoological Gardens has also sought a pair of giraffes from the Mysuru Zoo or at least a male giraffe in exchange to a female chimpanzee. The Mysuru Zoo desperately wants the chimpanzee for its captive breeding programme as the existing female chimps at the zoo cannot breed.

Among the males, is prolific Yuvaraja and the Zoo cannot spare him to the Nandankanan Zoo. The Zoo authorities are yet to decide which giraffe to be sent to Bannerghatta Biological Park. It will be either Mary or Bubbly, the two young females. Giraffes Kushi and Lakshmi are pregnant and are expected to deliver in a few days.