Khushi, the female giraffe at Nandankanan. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 16: Get ready to see some new faces at the Nandankanan zoo.

Plans are on to bring seven lions from Gujarat, two spectacle monkeys from the Agartala zoo in Tripura and two rhinos and one giraffe from the Patna zoo.

Nandankanan authorities are in touch with the authorities of these states for the transfers.

Principal chief conservator of forests, wildlife, J.D. Sharma told The Telegraph that while the state government was planning two get two male and five female lions from Gujarat, talks were already on to get two rhinos from the zoo in Patna. A male giraffe will also be procured from the same zoo.

At present, Nandankanan has one female giraffe called Khusi.

Sharma said the number of spectacle monkeys to be procured from Tripura had not been decided.

Nandankanan will get these animals either by exchanging some animals or in some cases, absolutely free, through goodwill gestures.

“Last year, we got a male and a female lion from Gujarat absolutely free because of our goodwill. However, for rare animals such as spectacle monkeys, we may need to give them some animals in exchange. For the male giraffe, we will start the negotiations with an open heart and if needed, animals will be given in exchange,” he said.

In July last year, a one-year-old giraffe arrived from the Sanjay Gandhi Zoological Park, Patna. In 2008, an attempt to bring a giraffe from Alipore Zoo in Calcutta went horribly wrong with the animal encountering an accident and dying on the way.

Khushi, the female giraffe at Nandankanan. Telegraph picture

In 2011, Nandankanan received 10 animals from various zoos from across the country including two dancing deer from Manipur. However, one deer died soon after reaching Nandankanan because of a spinal injury, possibly received on the way.

“This time, we are going to adopt all possible precautions so that the animals arrive with least possible stress related to the long journey. They will also be transported in comfortable enclosures with enough air circulation and a temperature-control mechanism in place,” said Sharma.

Nandankanan zoo is spread over 3.62sqkm and is home to 1,972 animals of 121 species.