Two major zoos in Gujarat would get zebras, Himalayan bear and some exotic wild birds from Punjab and Maharashtra in exchange for six lions.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, during a Cabinet meet Wednesday, gave his approval to this exchange with zoos of Punjab and Maharashtra, said the release.

As per the proposal approved by the CM, the Sakkarbaug zoo in Junagadh would give two lions and as many lionesses to Mumbai's Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan & Zoo under the animal exchange programme.

In return, the Sakkarbaug zoo would get two male and as many female zebras, four cockatiel-grey birds, two cockatiel-white birds, eight night herons and one female horn-bill from the Mumbai zoo.

On the same lines, the Rajkot zoo would send a lion and a lioness to the M C Zoological Park in Chhatbir, Punjab, the release said.

In exchange, the Rajkot zoo would get one Himalayan bear, one pair of jungle cat, one pair of baboon, three pairs of rose ringed parakeet, two pairs of comb duck, two pairs each of Alexandrian Parakeet and zebra finch bird, it said.

On Tuesday, Sakkarbaug zoo authorities had announced that eight lions - two male and six female - will soon be shifted to a zoo in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, as part of an animal exchange programme.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)