India, March 10 -- Two smooth-coated otters, a species that was last seen in 2004 at the Delhi zoo, are among several animals that are set to arrive in Delhi in a slew of exchanges with zoological parks located across the country, officials aware of the development said.

The otters and 10 star tortoise will arrive from the Surat zoo, in exchange for five sangai deer, two blue-and-yellow macaws and four green-cheeked conure. In another exchange with the Lucknow zoo, Delhi will receive swamp deer in exchange for chinkara, officials said.

"A team of officials including a keeper is travelling to Surat zoo on Monday to see the animals and get experience on otter housing and maintenance. The exchange is likely to be done in the last week of M...