The Nandankanan Zoological Park has sent a team to bring two bison from the Chhatbir Zoo in Chandigarh and five Manipuri deer or Thamins from the Delhi Zoo to attract more tourists to the park. The six-member team including veterinary doctor Anil Kumar Das and Assistant Director of the zoo Kamal lochan Purohit, who had left for Delhi on May 16, would return with the animals on May 26, sources said.
Official sources said the animals would be brought to the Nandankanan through an exchange programme approved by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA). As per the deal, the city zoo would give water monitor lizards, four-horn antelopes and white Ibis for the Thamins and a pair of bison. The city zoo has also planned to bring two breeding pairs each of African lions and Zebra from Israel’s Ramat Gan Safari Park. After completing all formalities, sources said, the zoo would bring the animals. Notably, by the end of March, the zoo witnessed a record footfall of 29.04 lakh visitors. In the just-concluding financial year, the zoo has generated revenue of Rs 7.12 crore, the highest-ever in its history.