The Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) here has received three new species of animals—three four-horned antelopes (also called as Chousingha), two pairs of jungle cats and four pairs of barking deer (also called as Muntjacs). Besides, four open billed storks also moved into the BBP recently.
These animals and birds have been procured from the Nandankanan Biological Park, Bhubaneswar, in exchange for two pairs of lions from the BBP. The exchange was approved by the Central Zoo Authority. This takes the total number of species at BBP to 91. Visitors can view the new species from November 6, said BBP executive director B Range Gowda. Chousinghas are small antelopes and are found in the open forests of India and Nepal. The most distinctive feature of the animal is the four horns in males; a pair of horns grows between the ears and the second pair grows further up on the forehead.
Open Billed Storks can usually be found in foraging habitats, inland, wetlands and are rarely seen along river banks and tidal flats. They prey commonly on snails.
Jungle cats are medium sized cats, native to Asia - from southern China in the east through south-east and Central Asia to the Nile Valley in the west. They are the largest of the living Felis species. They resemble the small lynx, but have a small tuft on the ears and a short tail.
Muntjacs bark like dogs at the sight of predators and hence the name. They are usually solitary animals. They display diurnal and nocturnal activities and are found in tropical and sub-tropical deciduous forests, scrub forests and the hilly regions on the slopes of Himalayas.