India, July 31 -- The Delhi zoo is expected to welcome by next month two smooth-coated otters, a species last seen there in 2004. The otters are is set to arrive from Gujarat under an animal exchange programme, officials aware of the matter said.

A team will go to Surat to bring the animals to Delhi. In exchange, four Sangai deer will be sent to the Surat Zoo, the officials said.

"Next month, a team will be sent to bring these otters to Delhi. We last saw such otters at our zoo in 2004," said Delhi zoo director Sanjeet Kumar. "We presently have over 80 Sangai deer, which is the highest population of these deer at any zoo in Delhi. Thus, we are parting ways with some of them," said Kumar.

As the name suggests, smooth-coated otters have ...