The Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) near here would add more numbers of species to its wildlife as the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has approved for animal exchange between it and the Aizawl Zoological Park, Mizoram.
The approval has been granted under Section 38I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for the purpose of breeding/ pairing/ conservation. A total of 18 animals would be brought to Nandankanan from Aizawl under the exchange programme. The animals include Himalayan black bear (male-1, female-1), Wild dog (male-1, female-1), Asian brown tortoise (male-3, female-3), Assam macaque (male-1, female-1), Stump-tailed macaque (male-3, female-3).
However, the NZP would get a pair of Himalayan black bear in exchange of common peafowl (male 2, female 2).The approval would be valid for a period of six months from the date of issue of the letter by the CZA. Notably, the NZP had written to the CZA on September 26, 2020 seeking to get 12 animals from Aizawl. Again, Nandankanan sought 18 animals from the Aizawl zoo in another letter to the CZA on December 23 last year.