Bengaluru: Scripting a new chapter in the on-site conservation of animals, Bannerughatta Biological Park (BBP) is all set to exchange four elephants with a Japanese zoo. According to the officials, this will be the first-ever export of animals from BBP. The four Asian elephants, including one male and three female jumbos, will start their journey Thursday to Himeji Central Park-Safari Park at Himeji in Japan.The exchange of animals is part of a larger multi-exchange programme, where BBP will receive four cheetahs, jaguars, and puma along with three chimpanzees and eight black-capped capuchin monkeys. The elephants chosen for exchange include Suresh (8), Gowri (9), Shruthi (7), and Tulsi (5).According to an official release, the jumbos will be transported through a Qatar Airways cargo plane from Kempegowda International Airport to Kansai International Airport, Osaka. After 20 hours of journey, the jumbos will land at Himeji on Friday. “Jumbos were trained for the last six months and certified as fit by the veterinarians for travel. Two veterinarians each from Himeji and BBP will accompany the jumbos to Japan along with four animal keepers, one supervisor, and a biologist. Eight of our officials will camp at Himeji for two weeks to train the elephants in the new environment,” explained a senior BBP official.
