The Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden has achieved a milestone after it managed to successfully breed the endangered Himalayan serow.

On the day of Magh Bihu, Assam state zoo got its first Himalayan serow calf through a loan breeding arrangement between Assam and Nagaland zoos.

As per reports, the Assam zoo had two female serows and the Nagaland Zoo had one male serow. Last February, the Nagaland zoo had sent its male serow to Assam zoo for breeding and this year a calf was born after 10 months of pairing.

Forest officials have informed that this was the first time that animals were being exchanged for breeding which turned out to be successful. The programme was approved by the Central Zoo Authority.

The Himalayan serows are goat-antelope native to the eastern Himalayas and eastern and southeastern Bangladesh. It is listed as “near threatened” on the IUCN Red List because of loss of its population declining due to habitat loss and meat hunting.

Photo Credit: Experience Northeast India (Representative Image)