The zoo authorities have obtained permission for the same from Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and steps are being taken to get the go-ahead from MoEFCC and other authorities concerned to bring four African leucistic lions, one male and three female, and lemur species by March next year.

Another pair of African lion along with a pair of cheetahs, five ring-tailed lemur, a pair chimpanzee, three red-necked wallaby, eight hamadryas baboon, seven African grey parrot and five blue-and-gold macaw will also be brought from Dubai under the programme

In return, Nandankanan will export a female hippopotamus, six Sangai, five black-bucks, four hog deer, a pair of gaur and red jungle fowl and six gharials, the sources added.

According to sources, the 13-ft-long gharial weighing over 118 kg has been kept at an enclosure on the premises of the zoo.

It may be noted here that the gharial was trapped in the fishing net of some fishermen, who had ventured into the sea recently. The fishermen captured the huge saltwater crocodile and informed the forest department officials.

On being informed, a team from the Nandankanan zoo proceeded to Balasore to safely bring the gharial to Bhubaneswar. The zoo authorities received the gharial from the forest department officials. The rescued reptile is in a good condition at the zoo, sources said.