Bhubaneswar: The Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) near Bhubaneswar has received 11 species of animals and birds from Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad under animal exchange programme.
Nandankanan Zoo got the new inmates following approval from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA). A 17-member team from the Hyderabad Zoo handed over the animals to the Nandankanan authorities on Monday.
The new inmates at the Nandankanan included 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 exchange, the Nandankanan Zoo gave five species of animals and birds to the Hyderabad zoo. Those included three Siamese crocodiles, four golden pheasants, two Lady Amherst’s pheasants, two hog deer and two mouse deer.
In the second phase of the exchange programme, the Nandankanan Zoo will receive two female bonnet macaques in exchange of four Asian open bill storks and four Assamese macaques, the zoo authorities said in a statement.