Gorewada International Zoo is preparing to send two tigers to Jaipur Zoo as part of an animal exchange program. In return, Gorewada Zoo has received a pair of striped hyenas, grey wolves, and sloth bears from Jaipur Zoo.

The animals arrived in Nagpur on Friday in four different vehicles, and a team from Jaipur Zoo was also present. According to Shatnik Bhagwat, the Director of Gorewada Zoo, this is the first time the zoo has received striped hyenas, and the grey wolves are a rare addition.

The striped hyena is a near-threatened species, and the grey wolf is endangered, found from Southwest Asia to the Indian subcontinent. Bhagwat said the new animals will be kept in a rescue centre to get used to their new environment before moving to special enclosures. They will be kept away from visitors until then.

Currently, Gorewada Zoo has two tigers, six leopards, four sloth bears, and 70 herbivores, plus various bird species. The zoo recently received several herbivores and birds from Lucknow’s Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden. Under the exchange program, the zoo will send two sloth bears to Lucknow, increasing the number of sloth bears at Gorewada Zoo to six.

More animals are expected to arrive at Gorewada Zoo soon as part of the exchange program.