Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad has bred 556 mouse deer since beginning its conservation programme in 2010, with 226 animals released into wildlife reserves and another 74 transferred to zoos under exchange programmes, officials said.
The programme began with two males and four females. The zoo currently houses 101 mouse deer, comprising 61 males and 40 females. Officials said the population had grown steadily through controlled feeding, health management and conservation breeding.
Animals selected for release are vaccinated and medically checked before being moved to soft-release facilities. The zoo has released mouse deer at Amrabad Tiger Reserve, Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Mrugavani National Park, Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary, Nirmal Division, Jannaram Division and Tejovanam Park in Siddipet.
The programme is aimed at supporting populations of one of India’s smallest hoofed mammals, a species affected by habitat destruction and hunting. The mouse deer is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and is among 73 endangered species identified by the Central Zoo Authority.
The zoo has also introduced wild-born individuals into its breeding centre to maintain genetic diversity. Genetic profiling carried out for the programme confirmed that the individuals were distinct, supporting the effort to avoid excessive genetic similarity within the captive population.
Mouse deer are often described as a living fossil because they are considered to have remained largely unchanged for 20–30 million years. Their small size and habitat requirements make conservation management dependent on both breeding facilities and suitable release sites.
The releases from Hyderabad’s zoo have therefore involved more than increasing the number of animals held in captivity. They have connected the zoo’s breeding work with protected areas and other conservation institutions across Telangana. The 74 animals sent to other zoos were transferred through exchange programmes, expanding the species’ captive conservation network.
Officials said the programme would continue with further releases at suitable sites and with efforts to strengthen captive populations. The approach places the zoo in a continuing institutional role: maintaining a viable breeding population, preparing animals for release, and supporting wildlife reserves where reintroduction is considered suitable.
For the Nehru Zoological Park, the programme’s recent recognition came through the SKOCH award for conservation breeding and reintroduction. The award was presented recently to curator J Vasantha. Further releases and continued genetic and health management are the next stated steps for the conservation programme.