Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden is gearing up to welcome new guests.
Four zebras and four white-winged wood ducks will soon be arriving at the zoo in Guwahati from Israel and the Czech Republic respectively.
Assam forest and environment minister Parimal Suklabaidya said that four zebras from Israel would be brought to the zoo in exchange for two black panthers following an MoU with Reliance Industries.
Under this exchange programme with Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Kingdom at Jamnagar in Gujarat, a pair of black panthers have already been sent in January.
“The enclosures for the new inmates are almost ready,” minister Suklabaidya said.
He also said that two Black Panther cubs were born on June 11 with two other cubs born one and a half months ago.
Suklabaidya said fresh grass is being grown for the herbivores in the hydroponic system within a span of seven days.
Rhinos, deer, nilgai and blackbucks are being fed daily with fresh grass grown in the hydroponic enclosure.
The minister said there are no immediate plans to open the zoo in the greater interest of the animals as well as zookeepers.
“There are no immediate plans to open the zoo till the COVID situation returns to normal,” he added.