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Royal Bengal Tiger (Representative File: PTI)
Tigers and gharials were exchanged from Nandankan Zoo in lieu of the animal exchange program between both zoos
Two Royal Bengal tigers and three freshwater gharials have arrived at Itanagar Biological Park (Itanagar Zoo) here, from Nandankanan Zoo in Odisha. The zoo’s curator, Raya Flajo, said on Tuesday that senior officials with the state’s forest department welcomed the animals to the zoo on Monday evening.
Flago said the animals were accompanied by a veterinary officer at Itanagar Biological Park Dr Surang Tadap from Odisha along with a forest protection assistant and a veterinary officer from Nandankan Zoo.
Itanagar Zoo currently houses a 13-year-old female tiger.
The zoo curator said, “The new pair of tigers – Shahini (female) aged 2.4 years and Rocky (male) aged 2.3 years are being kept in a separate place, adding that their names will be changed at a later stage.
Healthy habitats have been created to house the zoo’s tigers and gharials. He added that efforts are being made to modernize the zoo.
Tigers and gharials from Nandankan Zoo were exchanged in place of a Hoolock Gibbon and Leopard Cat as part of an animal exchange program between both zoos, which was approved by the Central Zoo Authority, in March this year.
“We will soon provide a pair of Hoolock Gibbon and a pair of wild cats to the Nandankanan Zoo authorities in accordance with the programme,” he said.
Arunachal Pradesh is unique because it provides healthy habitats for major cats like, Royal Bengal Leopard, Snow Leopard, Common Leopard, Clouded Leopard. Flago said the arrival of two tigers at the zoo would make it even more useful in raising awareness of the importance of wildlife.
Itanagar Biological Park, an important biological asset of the North Eastern state, currently houses more than 30 species of mammals, 12 species of birds and 4 species of reptiles within the park area.
The facility also has a rescue center under the park’s veterinary supervision to care for the rescued wild animals.
(This story was not edited by the News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
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