City zoo gets new animals and birds in exchange programme

The city zoo got new animals and birds under Animal Exchange Programme between Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam (IGZPV) and Zoological Garden, Alipore (Kolkata) on Saturday (April 27) to optimise the welfare of the animals under the care and contribute to the preservation of endangered species, according to the o£cials concerned here.

The Alipore zoo has given northern gira¤es in the ratio of 1:1, water monitor lizards (2:2) and scarlet macaws (1:1), while the Vizag zoo has given white tiger (one female), Indian grey wolf (1:1), Indian wild dogs (3:2), ring tailed lemur (1:1), black swan (1:1), hog deer (2:2) and striped hyenas (1:1).

IGZPV team led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) and IGZPV veterinary team along with the zoo sta¤ started from IGZPV by road on the night of April 22 to bring gira¤es from Alipore zoo.

One team went by road to do survey of the NH-16 in order to plan the safe and smooth transportation of gira¤e from Alipore to Vizag zoo. From there, on April 25, the team led by Dr. Navin Kumar, Dr. Phaneendra and Dr. Purushotham and other supporting

The pair of northern gira—es received by the Vizag zoo from the Alipore (Kolkata) zoo on Saturday.

sta¤ of the zoo travelled about 856 kilometres and reached Visakhapatnam zoo on Saturday morning.

“This exchange adds the gira¤es and water monitor lizards which were housed in IGZPV a few months back. One male gira¤e aged about two years and one female gira¤e aged about four years have been received from the Alipore zoo. This exchange also brings one new species to the animal collection of IGZPV such as scarlet macaw, which is the largest and colourful bird species, and will be a new attraction for the visitors,” said Nandani Salaria, IGZPV Curator.

The IGZPV team successfully completed this exchange programme which was a very challenging task specially to bring gira¤es, she added.