Nandankanan Zoological Park will soon welcome 18 new animals of three species through an exchange program with Gujarat’s Sakkarbaug Zoo.
On Friday morning, a team from Sakkarbaug Zoo departed with one ostrich, three barasingha, and three barking deer from Nandankanan. In return, Nandankanan will receive four leopards (two pairs), four Demoiselle cranes (two pairs), and ten jungle fowls (five pairs).
Zoo authorities confirmed that the exchange aims to diversify the gene pool and strengthen breeding programs, particularly for leopards. This marks the second animal exchange for Nandankanan this year, following the arrival of a ring-tailed lemur from Visakhapatnam’s Indira Gandhi Zoological Park earlier.
Officials believe the new additions will enrich the zoo’s collection and enhance its appeal to visitors. Nandankanan, Odisha’s largest zoological park, attracts thousands of tourists annually. Preparations are already in place to ensure proper health care and suitable habitats for the incoming animals.
