Mandrills Added to Nehru Zoological Park After Over a Decade

Hyderabad: Nehru Zoological Park added mandrels to its animal collection for the first time since 2013; The two brothers were released into the primate enclosure for public display.

The approximately 23-month-old mandrills were brought from Jamshedpur Zoo under the animal exchange programme. In return, Hyderabad zoo provided a pair of African lions. The animals arrived last month and were quarantined for 45 days before being transferred to the enclosure.

The release was carried out by Principal Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Vinay Kumar in the presence of zoo officials, including Director of Zoo Parks Sunil S. Hiremath and curator J. Vasantha.

Vinay Kumar said this addition reflects the zoo’s ongoing efforts towards wildlife conservation and breeding of native and exotic species. He said the new attraction is expected to attract more visitors during the summer season.

The zoo currently houses 196 species with more than 2,100 animals. The addition of the mandrels is expected to strengthen the primate section and increase visitor interest, officials said.