Bhubaneswar: Nandankanan Zoological Park will soon introduce an ‘African panorama’ exhibit, where visitors can see giraffes, cheetahs, and zebras. As part of this plan, the zoo received a pair of giraffes from Kolkata’s Alipore Zoo on Sunday night. In exchange, a pair of Asiatic lions will be sent to Alipore Zoo.
“New guests at Nandankanan. The pair would give much-needed company to the lonely giraffe Khusi of the zoo.This is part of the design to create an ‘African panorama’ in the zoo. Cheetahs and zebras would follow soon,” said Susanta Nanda, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), in an X post. Female giraffe Khusi was brought from Patna Zoo in 2012.
A 10-member team from Nandankanan began their journey on the night of Aug 31 and arrived with the giraffes on Sunday night. The giraffes, a one-and-a-half-year-old male and a 13-month-old female travelled for 25 hours in special containers from Kolkata to Bhubaneswar.
An elaborate transportation plan ensured their safe journey in a low-bedded trailer using special crates. The containers travelled at an average speed of 25 km per hour, with regular inspections of the giraffes, according to zoo sources. District collectors and SPs of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Cuttack, and Khurda districts were on alert, providing traffic support to the consignment.
The district administration and forest department ensured that the containers did not come into contact with any live electrical wires during the journey.
“Upon arrival at Nandankanan, the giraffes were placed in quarantine and are under close observation,” said a senior zoo official.

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