Surat gets new pair of tigers at Sarthana Nature Park

Wildlife enthusiasts in Surat have a reason to rejoice as a tiger and tigress pair named ‘Abhay’ and ‘Shri’ become new members of Sarthana Nature Park (Dr. Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Zoological Garden). The city dwellers will be able to see them from today. The pair was brought from the Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

The tiger pair is brought to Surat under the Animal Exchange Scheme operated by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC). The animals travel nearly 1,675 kilometers from Bhubaneswar to Surat over a 48-hour journey following all the safety and veterinary protocols.

Explaining the quarantine process, Nature Park Officer Hina Patel said that animals transferred from one state to another are required to be kept under observation to help them adapt to the new climate and surroundings.

“There is a significant difference between the environments of Bhubaneswar and Surat. A quarantine period of 45 days is necessary to allow the animals to recover from travel fatigue, adjust to local conditions, and ensure their health,” she said.

The process of shifting the pair to the display area began on Monday, and they are currently under special monitoring. Once the monitoring periods end, ‘Abhay’ and ‘Shri’ are expected to be a major attraction of the nature park. Officials said the arrival of the tiger pair will also help raise awareness about endangered wildlife species and the importance of environmental conservation.