Thiruvananthapuram: Ending a nine-year absence, three zebras arrived at the Thiruvananthapuram Zoological Garden on Thursday following a two-and-a-half-day road journey from Gujarat, zoo officials confirmed.

The new arrivals—a five-year-old male and two three-year-old females—were transferred from the Greens Zoological, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre at Vantara in Gujarat. Their arrival is expected to be a major highlight for visitors during the upcoming Onam festival season.

Unveiling the new enclosure area for the public, State Health and Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan described the animals' arrival as an "Onam gift" for visitors, noting that fulfilling the long-standing public expectation to see zebras back at the capital's zoo brings immense satisfaction.

The animals were transported in a specialized climate-controlled livestock ambulance, driven by a 13-member team led by a Vantara veterinary surgeon. Entering Kerala under police escort from the state border, the convoy arrived at the zoo complex at 5:15 AM on Thursday.

The zoo had been without zebras since 2017 following the death of its last resident, Sita, who was originally brought from Chennai's Vandalur Zoo in 2002.

Zoo Superintendent T.V. Anil Kumar noted that the addition fulfills a major request from school children and young visitors. Management is currently finalizing names for the trio.

According to senior zoo veterinary surgeon Dr Nikesh Kiran, the zebras are in good health despite mild transit fatigue. The animals will undergo a 21-day open quarantine, allowing the public to view them immediately without interruption.

To ease their dietary transition, a two-week supply of specialized Timothy grass was delivered alongside the animals, which will be mixed gradually with local fodder.

In return for the zebras, the Thiruvananthapuram zoo will transfer a male lion-tailed macaque and a king cobra to the Vantara facility under an official animal exchange agreement. (PTI)