Bhubaneswar: The Nandankanan Zoological Park located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar has added 58 animals belonging to 14 species of rare exotic wildlife, zoo authorities said on Saturday.

The animals have been donated to the zoological park by the Radhakrishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT) of Gujarat.

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The newly arrived animals include four zebras (two males and two females), four kangaroos (two males and two females), six Bennett’s wallabies (three males and three females), four ring-tailed lemurs (two males and two females), four tufted capuchins (two males and two females), four scarlet macaws (two males and two females), four blue-and-gold macaws (two males and two females), four green-winged macaws (two males and two females), four sulphur-crested cockatoos (two males and two females), four crowned cranes (two males and two females), four scarlet ibises (two males and two females), six meerkats (three males and three females, two cassowaries (one male and one female) and four blue wildebeests (two males and two females).

The addition includes 10 new species, the formation of a pair in one species and the introduction of new bloodlines in three species. With these additions, the total number of species at Nandankanan has increased to 188.

Zoo authorities said the arrival of the exotic animals is expected to enrich Nandankanan’s species diversity and strengthen its conservation and educational programmes. Visitors will get an opportunity to learn about wildlife from different geographical regions, their adaptations to their respective environments and the importance of biodiversity conservation.

The animals will be housed and managed under the zoo’s established animal-care, veterinary and husbandry protocols, with their welfare and scientific management given priority.

All the newly arrived animals are currently being kept in quarantine as part of the zoo’s animal health and management procedures.