Mangaluru : The Pilikula Biological Park has additional attractions, with arrival of two pairs each of white rhea and brown rhea, along with three swamp deer, said H Jayaprakash Bhandary, director of the park.

Bhandary said that rheas are the largest flightless bird of South America. Swamp deer are also called barasingha, and found in the Indian subcontinent.

The swamp deer is an endangered species, and has arrived from Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, Kerala, in an animal exchange programme.
They were received in exchange for three King Cobras and two pairs of Whitaker’s boa sent to Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, Kerala from Pilikula Zoo.

The animal exchange programme was halted for a year, due to the pandemic.