AGARTALA: The Zoo in Sipahijala sanctuary, about 20 km from Agartala now has many new animals including Hippopotamus, a pair of Sambar and black buck, official sources said on Saturday.
Director of Sipahijala Zoological Park, Ajit Bhowmik said, “in an exchange programme with Sanjoy Gandhi Zoological Park in Lucknow and Patna Zoological Park, we have received twelve animals including Hippopotamus, Sambar and black buck, hog deer and three species of birds–golden pheast, silver pheast and peacock. The animals arrived here yesterday.”
“We could not put the mammoth Hippopotamus because the vehicles carrying the animal consignment came yesterday and we sought a crane from the state government to download the animal,” he added.
Bhowmick said, two pairs of leopard cats were given to the two zoo authorities in Patna and Lucknow in exchange of the animals.
“With the arrival of the new animals, we hope the number of tourists in the zoo would increase,” he added.
Sipahijala Zoological Park has 42 species of animals now and there is a plan to increase the numbers to 83.
It is one of the most significant sanctuary of Tripura. (PTI)