'About 16,000 people visited the zoo compared to 10,000 people last Sunday (Aug 23),' the official added.

He said visitors came mainly to have a glimpse of the seven rare Brazilian monkeys which are being kept for a brief period as guests at the zoo.

The eight Brazilian monkeys were stolen from the Kolkata zoo and transported 900 km to Bhilai. Durg district police recovered seven of them Aug 29 and arrested a 35-year-old man from Assam in this connection. Police said one monkey died while being transported from Kolkata to Bhilai.