Bhubaneswar, Aug 28: Nandankanan Zoological Park has recently expanded its animal family, welcoming a new batch of creatures from the Alipore Zoological Garden in Kolkata, West Bengal. This exchange, part of a broader animal relocation initiative, has introduced two giraffes, two fishing cats, eight green iguanas, two spoon-billed sandpipers, and six water monitor lizards to the Odisha-based zoo.
In exchange for these new arrivals, Nandankanan Zoo will soon be sending one tiger, two lions, two Himalayan black bears, and two hippos to Alipore Zoological Garden. This exchange marks the first phase of an ongoing program aimed at enhancing the diversity of wildlife in both parks.
The influx of these animals has sparked excitement among zoo visitors, eager to observe these species up close. Nandankanan Zoo, known for its rich biodiversity, currently houses 4,275 wild animals spanning 166 species.
This includes 1,876 birds from 78 species, 2,021 mammals from 52 species, 357 reptiles from 30 species, and 21 amphibians across six species.
