Visitors to the Nehru Zoological Park would soon be able to see new faces from the animal kingdom from close quarters. The animal exchange programme between the city zoo and the Alipore Zoological Park in Kolkata that had been put on hold for the clouds to clear is now back on track.
A pair of salt water crocodiles would reach the city on Thursday night, followed by two young giraffes, a male and a female, next week, said zoo curator Shivani Dogra. However, visitors would get to see the new additions only after New Year since the animals have to be quarantined for at least two months.
“Our veterinary team along with the animal keepers had gone to Kolkata on October 26 with a specially-designed low bed truck to transport the giraffes by road,” Ms. Dogra said.
In exchange for the crocodiles and giraffe, the city zoo has given a pair of jaguar, lion and three pairs of mouse deer to the Kolkata zoo.
The city zoo officials have constructed a separate enclosure for the three-year-old giraffes to be quarantined and precautions are being taken to acclimatise them to Hyderabad climate.
