Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Sep 18: In a significant development, Pilikula Biological Park is set to receive penguins from Mumbai's Byculla Zoo under an animal exchange programme. These penguins, native to South America, will be exchanged for the Marsh Crocodile, which will be sent to Byculla Zoo.

Penguins are commonly found in colder, ice-covered regions of the Southern Hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. They are capable of living both on land and in water. Pilikula plans to create a suitable habitat for the penguins, with assistance from donors and CSR initiatives, as well as guidance from experts. H J Bhandary, director of Pilikula Biological Park, noted that the introduction of penguins is expected to increase the number of visitors and tourists to the park.

Additionally, yellow anacondas from Chennai's Crocodile Bank will also be brought to Pilikula, in exchange for various snakes and venomous reptiles from Pilikula.

Pilikula Biological Park will also receive a male Asiatic lion, endangered dholes, gharial crocodiles, and rare birds from Odisha's Nandankanan Zoo. In return, Pilikula will send animals such as wild dogs, reticulated pythons, and white-bellied sea eagles to the Odisha zoo.

Similarly, endangered dholes and rare birds from Punjab's Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park will be brought to Pilikula, while surplus animals like dholes, reticulated pythons, Muscovy ducks, and hyenas will be sent in exchange. From Tamil Nadu's Vandalur Zoo, endangered dholes and rare birds will be received, while Kalinga snakes and hyenas will be sent to the Vandalur Zoo. The Tirupati Zoo in Andhra Pradesh will provide rare birds to Pilikula, with wild cats being sent in return.

The director emphasized that these exchanges will help in enhancing the biodiversity of Pilikula Biological Park while fostering collaborations with zoos across India.