Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden, which celebrated its 150^th anniversary last year, is making plans to exchange animals with three other zoos across Vietnam, in an attempt to diversify its collection.

The Ho Chi Minh City-based Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden, or Saigon Zoo for short, was established in 1865, and has since been a hallmark of the city, leaving unforgettable childhood imprints on generations of city dwellers.

The zoo’s management recently announced its plan to trade parts of its tiger, lutung, and gibbon populations for other animals including ostriches, camels, and zebras from three other zoos across Vietnam.

According to the plan, Saigon Zoo will trade two Bengal tigers, four Indochinese tigers, and three Indochinese lutungs for two white tigers, one zebra, two Alpacas, four Arctic foxes, and five ostriches from Cu Chi Waterpark in Ho Chi Minh City.

In its exchange with the Prenn Waterfall Tourist Site in the Central Highlands city of Da Lat, Saigon Zoo will trade two Bengal tiger cubs, two yellow-cheeked gibbons, and one Indian python for two ostriches and five common shelducks.

The zoo, located in District 1, will also make deals with Bao Son Group in Hanoi to trade two yellow-cheeked gibbons for two hyenas.

Pham Van Tan, director at Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden Single-Member Ltd., said the zoo management is waiting for approval from the municipal People’s Committee before going ahead with the plan.

Saigon Zoo is currently home to over 1,000 individuals of 124 different species, including many extremely rare species such as crested argus, doucs, yellow-cheeked gibbons, Indian hog deers, Asian golden cats, and clouded leopards.

The zoo also houses over 2,500 trees and over 900 botanical plants.

A gibbon kept at Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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