Jamshedpur, April 27: Inhabitants of Israel, natives of Congo and soon to be residents of Tata Steel Zoological Park (TSZP) in Jamshedpur, these monkeys are indeed global citizens.

Five colourful five-year-old mandrills from Israel will soon call Tata zoo their home.

Authorities of the steel city zoo had been in talks with Tisch Family Zoological Gardens, Jerusalem, in Israel to get the young primates. Mandrills are close relatives of the drill monkey and baboons, and will definitely increase footfall at the zoo.

Last year, a proposal was sent to Tisch Family Zoological Gardens, which has agreed to present the animals to the Tata Zoo without the condition of an animal exchange.

Then, it was a question of waiting for a green light from Indian apex body Central Zoo Authority.

The Central Zoo Authority gave the go-ahead after reviewing the enclosure in the zoo. Slides, ladders, rocks and ropes give their enclosure the look of a playground for the young primates.

But now the decked have been cleared to bring the animals by August 2011.

There is a complicated protocol in place between two governments to bring animals to India from a foreign country, which is why the project was delayed as it was initiated last August.

“Getting the animals was a challenge for us as it involves a number of formalities between the two zoos and the governments of the respective countries. It is with the help of Tata Steel that the formalities are almost complete now,” said Bipul Chakrabarty, Tata zoo director.

Now, zoo authorities are looking forward to welcome the two male and three female primates.

“The new residents will not only brighten up the zoo but also increase footfall. People will definitely come to see the world’s largest monkey species,” said Chakravarty.

Though the Israel-based zoo had also offered two male chimpanzees to the Tata zoo, the latter was not keen to have them as India’s apex zoo body doesn’t allow any biological park to keep a same-sex pair and instead, recommends and promotes breeding.

When it comes to other animals, Tata zoo will face difficulties to get Asiatic lions, as it does not fall under the Central Zoo Authority conservation and breeding programmes. The Tata zoo director has however written a letter to the chief wildlife warden of Jharkhand to allow conservation programmes for sloth bears and giant squirrels as the zoo near Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, which has these species in large numbers.