Mangalore: Forty-five new birds brought from the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad have become the centre of attraction at the Pilikula Biological Park in Mangalore. The birds have been housed in a new huge walk-through aviary that was opened in the park recently.

Of all these birds, the cynosure of the public is a huge grey pelican.

The director of the park H.J. Bhandary said that other species of birds brought included purple heron, white ibis, painted stork, silver pheasant, red jungle fowl and grey jungle fowl.

He said that all birds that were brought were non-predatory and were fed fish now.

The birds were brought under an animal exchange programme, Mr. Bhandary said. He further said that the birds that were brought were mostly found in North India.

He said that about a three-year-old female tiger has been brought from Hyderabad.

In exchange a four-year old male tiger named ‘Kadamba’ would be sent there.

A female mouse deer was exchanged for a male one from Hyderabad. In addition, four jackals and King Cobras would be sent to Hyderabad. Mr. Bhandary said that some more birds would be brought from Surat and some other zoos in North India.

He said fruit yielding saplings would be planted inside the 55 feet high meshed aviary spread over 25,000 sq. ft. area. The aviary has two water ponds.