Mangaluru (PTI): Pilikula biological park here has acquired new exotic species of birds and mammals to attract more visitors.

The new species have been brought to the park from Greens Zoo of Gujarat under the animal exchange programme as approved by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), H Jayaprakash Bhandary, park director said.

The new birds are the Blue and Gold Macaw which is native to south America, Military Macaw of the central and south America, the Gala Pink and Grey Cockatoo of Australia and Green Turaco of west Africa. They have been let in display enclosures for the visitors, he said.

The new mammals introduced at the park include squirrel monkeys found in central and south America, red handed tamarin, native of north Amazon River, common marmosets of north eastern coast of Brazil and large rodents called the Patagonian Mara found in Patagonia and Argentina.

The mammals are being quarantined and their health is being monitored by a team of veterinarians, biologists, and zookeepers until the animals get acclimatised to the environment, Bhandary said.

In exchange, animals including tigers, leopards, dholes and a variety of snakes which were in excess have been handed over to the Greens Zoo, he said.

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Bengaluru: In a major crackdown on drug trafficking and illegal narcotics trade, Bengaluru City Police have arrested 16 accused persons and seized narcotic substances worth Rs 36.67 crore.

According to Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, those arrested include four foreign nationals, eight persons from other states and four locals. Police said the network had interstate as well as international links.

Police recovered 9 kg 64 grams of MDMA, 5 kg 195 grams of hydro ganja, 19,755 LSD strips, 156 grams of heroin, 618 grams of charas, 332 grams of cocaine, 315 grams of drug-mixed gummies and 11 kg 470 grams of ganja from the accused.

The Commissioner said the action was carried out as part of a major anti-drug operation in the city. The network was busted with the support of the CCB Narcotics Control Squad and police stations of Bagaluru, Adugodi, Chikkajala, HSR Layout, Yeshwanthpur, Jalahalli and Jnanabharathi.

Cases were registered in CCB, East Division and West Division police stations based on specific intelligence received on different dates, following which raids were conducted.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were procuring drugs at lower prices from foreign, interstate and local sources and selling them in Bengaluru at higher rates.

Police said college students and working professionals were among the main targets of the accused.