Bhubaneswar: Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar has welcomed 11 new species of animals and birds from Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad under an animal exchange programme.
This animal exchange programme was held after the Central Zoo Authority gave its consent.
As per reports, the Nandankanan zoo authorities have received two sarus cranes, two spoonbills, two grey jungle fowls, two iguanas, two barbary doves, four hog deer, two mouse deer, two red sand boas, two common sand boas, two bonnet macaques and two russell’s vipers. In return, Nandankanan provided three Siamese crocodiles, four golden pheasants, two Lady Amherst’s pheasants, two hog deer, and two mouse deer to the Hyderabad Zoo.
In the second phase, Nandankanan Zoo will receive two female bonnet macaques in exchange for four Asian open bill storks and four Assamese macaques, said sources.
A 17-member team from the Hyderabad Zoo arrived at Nandankanan yesterday, formally handing over the new animal additions to the zoo authorities. This exchange programme not only adds new species to the NZP’s collection but also helps infuse new bloodlines into the existing species, said sources.
