Rhino Shiva refuses to leave Byculla zoo

MUMBAI: Byculla zoo’s star resident Shiva couldn’t be shifted to Delhi’s National Zoological Park on Wednesday as the single-horned rhinoceros refused to enter the cage that was to transport him.

The rhino, who has spent 34 years of forced celibacy, was to be moved to Delhi after authorities found a female companion for him there.

“Shiva kept walking around the cage’s gate, but didn’t enter it,” said a source. “Zoo officials had placed Shiva’s favourite food items like banana and carrots in the cage to lure him inside. They had also fed him less so that he would get hungry and enter the cage, but it seems he was not in the mood to leave his home of over 25 years.”

Zoo officials said that rhinos are extremely moody and cannot be forced to do things against their will. “A few years ago, another rhino was to be transported to Delhi. At that time, it had taken the authorities four days to draw him inside a cage,” said another official.

“We will try again on Thursday,” said Anil Anjankar , director of the zoo.