Itanagar/UNI: The Itanagar Biological Park, popularly known as Itanagar Zoo, on Monday ‘welcomed’ a pair of adult Royal Bengal Tigers and three freshwater Gharials from Nandankanan Zoo in Odisha.

The animals were received by the director of Itanagar Biological Park in the presence of the Principal Secretary (Environment, Forests & Climate Change), Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), and other senior officers of the department.

The Royal Bengal Tigers and Gharials have been exchanged from Nandankanan Zoo in lieu of Hoolock Gibbon and leopard cat as a part of the animal exchange program between the Itanagar Biological Park and Nandankanan Zoo which was approved by the Central Zoo Authority in March this year, an official release said.

Arunachal Pradesh is unique as it provides healthy habitats to the major cats namely, the Royal Bengal tiger, snow leopard, common leopard, and clouded leopard, the arrival of two tigers in the Itanagar Zoo will make it more useful in generating awareness on the importance of wildlife, the release said, adding that healthy habitats have been created for housing tigers and gharials in the zoo.

Efforts are also being made to modernise the zoo and make it upto high-quality natural standards.

The Itanagar Biological Park is an important biological asset for Arunachal Pradesh. The park currently has more than 30 mammal species, 12 bird species and four reptile species housed inside the park area.

The facility also has a rescue centre maintained under veterinary supervision of the Park to take care of rescued wild animals.