Bhubaneswar, June 27: Four sambar deer were brought to Chandaka-Damapada sanctuary from Taptapani deer park in a special van on Wednesday.
The forest department has planned to bring 32 sambar deer to Chandaka-Damapada sanctuary, which was once a safe house of the species.
Odisha forest department obtained approval of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to bring sambar deer to the sanctuary on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar city.
A team of 16 forest perssonel reached Taptapani zoo under Parakhemundi forest division in Ganjam district on Tuesday.
The relocation process began on Wednesday morning and four sambar deer, including three female and one male were shifted to Bharatpur reserve forest under Chandaka-Damapada sanctuary in presence of a 12-member team of the Parakhemundi forest division.
Chandaka-Damapada sanctuary has no sambar deer which was once a safe house of the species. The forest department has taken initiative to grow sambar deer population in the sanctuary. It has planned to bring 32 sambar deer to the sanctuary by August this year, said Chandaka DFO Sarat Behera. The four shifted sambar deer will be kept in enclosure for six months and released into wild after they get adjusted with the new habitation.
Notably, two female and one male sambar deer were brought to Bharatpur reserve forest as part of the drive in the first phase in February. A sambar deer cub was born on last Saturday following which the four new animals were brought on Wednesday, said the official.
The number of sambar deer reached eight with arrival of the new guests.
