Guwahati: Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden has now become home to two new rare species from South America. Six hyacinth macaws, a bird species native to central and eastern South America, and 2 capuchin monkeys originally belonging to tropical forests in Central America and South America, were released in Guwahati zoo on November 6.
State forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya released the species after they underwent thorough medical care for three months under the supervision of veterinary doctors before being released on Friday.
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Their movements are being tracked 24 hours and are kept under CCTV surveillance inside specially-built cages in which they are kept. Since these species belong to a different corner of the world, attempts have been made to create an environment for them to adapt inside their cages.
The Cachar forest department rescued the animals from smugglers as they were being transported to Guwahati from Mizoram. Forest department officials intercepted their transport from the Lailapur area along the Assam-Mizoram border carrying one kangaroo, six hyacinth macaws, three turtles, and two capuchin monkeys.
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The Kangaroo and the turtles are currently going through a probation period monitored by experts. They are being examined for any foreign viruses that they might carry and are currently kept under quarantine for 45 days.
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“The process of inquiry is lengthy; we are trying to ascertain the origin of the species based on their DNA and other such methods. For the time being, we cannot say for sure from where they have originated. We haven’t found much evidence either from the smugglers. We are still investigating as to where they came from and for whom they were meant,” said state forest minister, Parimal Suklabaidya while talking to the media.
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