Bangladesh zoo throws wedding party

Some 400 guests attended the reception laden with balloons on Wednesday for long-time resident and lioness Nova and newcomer Nabha at the Chittagong zoo in the country’s south. “This is an unusual function no doubt. And we made an effort to give a festive look to this zoo with colourful decorations to welcome the union of the lion and lioness,” said government administrator of Chittagong district Mesbah Uddin. 

“We brought the lion named Badsha, renamed Nabha, from the Rangpur zoo to stay here with the lioness Nova for the purpose of breeding,” Uddin said. A pre-wedding party was also held for school children that included a small concert, deputy zoo curator Monjur Morshed said. But the highlight of the festivities was a 10-kilogram cake for the couple made mainly of meat that included beef, chicken, eggs and fried liver, he said. Nova was born in Chittagong zoo 11 years ago and has been living without a male partner until Badsha arrived two weeks ago. The lions would remain in separate but adjacent cages for another three days to give them