Two lions Akbar likely to be renamed as ‘Suraj’ and Sita as ‘Tanaya’

KOLKATA: New names have been recommended for the two lions Akbar and Sita of Bengal's Siliguri Safari Park. The new name proposed for Akbar is Suraj and that of the female lioness Sita is Tanaya. The Government of Bengal has submitted a recommendation in this regard to the central zoo authority. The lions brought from Tripura to Bengal are being renamed. The action is after the names Akbar and Sita sparked a controversy.

If the Central Zoo Authority accepts the recommendation, the name will be changed in the official records. However, if this recommendation is rejected, the central zoo authority is also empowered to give digital names to lions. The Calcutta High Court had criticized naming the lions as Akbar and Sita. The circuit bench judge of the Calcutta High Court raised the criticism while considering the plea of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

The court also observed that it is not right to name animals after gods and mythological heroes. The court also said the names should be changed to avoid controversy. The new names were recommended based on it.

The VHP filed a plea demanding that Akbar and Sita should not be caged together. Akbar is the name of the Mughal emperor and Sita part of Ramayana. The VHP alleged that caging Sita with Akbar is an insult to Hinduism.