The Nehru Zoological Park Monday has received a special gift from Saudi Arabia’s Prince Bandar Bin Saud Bin Mohammed Al Saud – a pair each of African lions and cheetahs.
The animals from National Wildlife Research Centre of Saudi Arabia reached the zoo Monday. Two officials from the centre accompanied the animals.
P. Mallikarjuna Rao, director of Zoological Parks, received the animals at the zoo, which recently celebrated its golden jubilee.
Zoo officials said Prince Bandar, chairman of Saudi Wildlife Authority, had offered the gift during his visit to the zoo in October last year. He was in the city to attend the international biodiversity conference.
They recalled that the Prince had appreciated the zoo’s facilities and had promised the gift. The state government accepted the gift.
The Saudi authorities had subsequently informed the zoo officials to make arrangements to complete the formalities.
Two special enclosures were built for the African lions and cheetahs. They will be in quarantine for a month.