Wildlife lovers in Surat have a new attraction as a tiger and tigress, named Abhay and Shri, have been added to the Sarthana Nature Park (Dr. Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Zoological Garden). Visitors will be able to see the pair from today. The animals were brought from Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
The tiger pair arrived in Surat under the Animal Exchange Scheme operated by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC). They travelled nearly 1,675 km over a 48-hour journey, following all required safety and veterinary protocols.
Nature Park Officer Hina Patel said that animals transferred from one state to another are kept under observation to help them adjust to the new climate and surroundings. Since the environments of Bhubaneswar and Surat differ significantly, the pair underwent a 45-day quarantine period to recover from travel fatigue and ensure their health.
The process of shifting the tigers to the display enclosure began on Monday, and they are currently under special monitoring. Officials said that once the monitoring period ends, Abhay and Shri are expected to become a major attraction at the nature park and will also help raise awareness about wildlife conservation and the protection of endangered species.