post news network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 7: Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) has received 24 new animals of six species under the animal exchange programme from Nehru Zoological park, Hyderabad. The animals reached NZP early Wednesday.
The new arrivals at NZP comprise one tiger, five muggers (two males, three females), five red jungle fowl (two males, three females), two pairs of painted stork, one pair of white peafowl, seven mouse deer (two males and five females). Sources said the transfer of animals has been carried out with permission from the Central Zoo Authority.
In exchange, NZP will be parting with 49 animals of five species from its own stock including a tigress, one female mouse deer, ten pairs of java sparrows, as many pairs of zebra finches, two golden pheasants and five water monitors.
Jayanta Das, the deputy director of NZP, said: “All the animals are in good health. They will remain in quarantine for 15 days to one month, after which visitors can see them. The tiger will be in quarantine for more than one month.”
He added that although the animals look very healthy at present “veterinary doctors of NZP are doing all the necessary medial checks” on the new arrivals.
According to Jayanta, the park will be handing over the 49 animals in its turn to the authorities of Nehru Zoological park, Hyderabad, in two to three days.
When asked about possible additions to the park in future, he said: “We are awaiting approval from Central Zoo Authority to bring one male gharial and an anaconda to the park.”
