Bhubaneswar: The Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) situated on outskirts of Bhubaneswar welcomed 8 new guests on Sunday ahead of Christmas and New Year.

The animals were brought from the Kamla Nehru Prani Sangrahalaya in Indore under animal exchange programme.

"The new guests included 2 Asian lionesses, 1 Indian fox (female), 3 gharials (two males and one female) and 2 Indian grey wolves (male)," informed the NZP authorities.

publive-image new gharial at NZP

publive-image female Indian fox at NZP

Recently, a six-member team led by veterinarian Dr Debdutt Mohapatra had visited Indore to bring the animals to Nandankanan.

Source said that the NZP will hand over 2 tigers (1 melanistic tiger and 1 white tiger) to Indore zoo authorities in exchange of 8 new animals under the animal exchange plan.