Animal enthusiasts in Tripura are abuzz with excitement as the state’s Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary and zoo received a batch of 18 animals on Monday, including two majestic Royal Bengal Tigers, as part of an animal exchange program with the North Bengal zoo.
Director of Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary and Clouded Leopard National Park, Biswajit Das, revealed that under the guidance of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), the exchange program was initiated with the North Bengal zoo in Siliguri, West Bengal.
“As part of the exchange, 18 animals, including a Royal Bengal Tiger pair, leopards, pheasants, peafowls, and hill mynas, arrive in Tripura. In return, Sepahijala will send a lion couple, spectacle monkeys, leopard cats, and blackbucks to North Bengal,” explained Das.
Among the arrivals at Sepahijala are a pair of Royal Bengal Tigers, leopards, golden pheasants, silver pheasants, peafowls, and hill mynas. In return, North Bengal will receive a lion couple, spectacle monkeys, leopard cats, and blackbucks.
To ensure the safe transfer of animals, the sanctuary will be closed to visitors for two days, adhering to CZA guidelines. The new additions will undergo a 30-day quarantine period before being introduced to the public.
The presence of Royal Bengal Tigers and other exotic species is expected to enhance Sepahijala’s appeal to tourists, located 35 km south of Agartala. This exchange not only enriches the biodiversity of both sanctuaries but also promotes conservation efforts and wildlife education in the region.
