Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is gearing up to welcome five new exotic species from foreign zoos this year. To begin with, four zebras (two male and two female) are expected to arrive in the zoo park from Israel by the first week of February. “We have completed the agreement formalities with Israel zoo and will soon begin the process of bringing the animals. Once they arrive, the zebras will be kept under one month quarantine before shifting them to their enclosure for public viewing,” zoo curator B. Vijay Kumar told The Hindu .
After a delay of nearly a year, the pigmy hippo and fishing cat will also be brought to Vizag zoo from Colombo zoo soon. “The delay was because any animal being brought to the country is required to be vaccinated before they arrive at the port of entry in India. In this case, the vaccine Artiodactilo was not available at Sri Lanka. So we are in the process of procuring it and will be sending it to Colombo after which the animals will be brought here,” curator Mr. Kumar said.
Last year, a team from Czech Republic visited Vizag zoo and evinced interest in an animal exchange programme with Vizag for giving four red-necked wallaby in exchange of painted storks and grey pelicans.
The Vizag zoo officials have already written to Central Zoo Authority and Director General Foreign Trade for the necessary permissions. This apart, the zoo will also get 20 flamingos from Japan.
