Bannerghatta Biological Park to export 4 elephants to Japan

Bengaluru: The Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) will export animals to Japan for the first time as part of an animal exchange programme.

In a statement on Wednesday, the park said that it had received all required clearances, including approval from the Central Zoo Authority, no-objection certificates, and other departmental permissions, to send four elephants — Suresh (8), Gowri (9), Shruthi (7), and Tulsi (5) — to the Himeji Central Park in Himeji, Japan.

Eight BBP personnel will stay at the Himeji Central Park for two weeks to help train the elephants. Arrangements have been made for logistics, feed, and veterinary care.

"The elephants will be transported by Qatar Airways cargo flight B777-200F from the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, to Kansai International Airport, Osaka, on July 24 and 25. The total journey time will be around 20 hours from the BBP to Himeji Central Park–Safari Park,” the statement said.

The elephants have undergone six months of training for transport and have been cleared as fit for travel. “The animals will be accompanied by two veterinary doctors from the Himeji Central Park, along with four keepers, one supervisor, and one biologist from the BBP,” it added.

As part of this exchange, BBP will receive four cheetahs, four jaguars, four pumas, three chimpanzees, and eight black-capped capuchins in return.

In May 2021, the Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysuru had exported three elephants to Toyohashi Zoo and Botanical Park in Japan.