Nandankanan to welcome new guests under animal exchange programme

Bhubaneswar: Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) in Bhubaneswar will add more number of species to its wildlife as the Central Zoo Authority has approved for animal exchange between it and the Aizwal Zoological Park, Mizoram.

The approval has been granted under section 38I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for the purpose of breeding/ pairing/ conservation.

With the approval, total 18 animals will be brought to the Nandankanan Zoo from Aizwal Zoological Park in Mizoram under animal exchange programme.

The animals included Himalayan black bear (male-1, female-1), Wild dog (male-1, female-1), Asian brown tortoise (male-3, female-3), Assam macaque (male-1, female-1), Stump-tailed macaque (male-3, female-3).

However, the NZP will get a pair of Himalayan black bear in exchange of Common Peafowl (male 2, female 2).

The approval will be valid for a period of six months from the date of issue of the letter by the Central Zoo Authority.

It is pertinent to mention that the NZP had written to the Central Zoo Authority on September 26, 2020, seeking to get 12 animals from the Aizwal Zoological Park. Again, the zoo sought 18 number of animals from the zoo in another letter to the Central authority on December 23 last year.