A
ex-situ
updates
Central Zoo Authority
dsUnzh; fpfM+;k?kj izkf/kdj.k
A Quarterly newsletter of the Central Zoo Authority
March 2012 (Volume 1 Issue 1)
CZA
CZA
1
Editorial Board
Chief Patron
Jayanthi Natarajan
Minister of State (I/C)
Ministry of Environment &
Forests
& Chairperson, CZA
Government of India
Chief Advisor
Jagdish Kishwan
Additional Director General
of Forests (Wildlife), Ministry
of Environment and Forests
Government of India
Editor in Chief
B.S Bonal
Member Secretary, CZA
Editorial Technical
Dr. Brij Kishor Gupta Evaluation & Monitoring
Officer, CZA
Editorial Coordinator
Dr. Naim Akhtar
Scientific Officer, CZA
Editorial Consultants
Himanshu Malhotra
& Sabina Kidwai
Contents
History of Zoo Movement in India
CZA – An Overview
Importance of Captive Breeding in Zoos
Designing of Zoos and Importance of
Enrichment
Zoo News
Global News
CZA News
Partner Institutions
Cover photograph
The Snow leopard lives between 3,000 and 5,500 metres above
mean sea level in the rocky mountain ranges of Central and
South Asia. Because of its secretive nature its exact numbers
are unknown, but it has been estimated that between 3,500
and 7,000 snow leopards exist in the wild and between 600
and 700 in zoos worldwide. The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan
Zoological Park in Darjeeling has been identified as the coordinating zoo for breeding the Snow leopard.
Photo credit: Himanshu Malhotra
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the articles are the personal
views of the authors
2
School of Planning and Architecture
Minister of State (I/C)
Ministry of Environment and Forests
Government of India
Chairperson
Central Zoo Authority
Jayanthi Natarajan
MESSAGE
India is a country with rich biodiversity comprising a large variety of unique flora and fauna. Conservation
of our precious biodiversity is a responsibility we all must share. Zoos are a major component of this
conservation process because of their valuable role as educators and safe havens for endangered
species. The zoo movement in India has come a long way with zoos today becoming centres for the
breeding of many of the endangered species, thus providing a hope for the future. Today, naturalistic
enclosures with proper enrichment, good diet and regular veterinary care for animals have ensured that
the animals are healthy. Guidelines on conservation breeding programme of endangered animals and
maintenance of proper studbooks have ensured a scientific breeding process, which can eventually
allow certain bred animals to be reintroduced into the wild.
A child’s first introduction to wildlife is through the zoo, where he learns about wild animal species and
develops sensitivity to varied elements of environment. Thus zoos play an indispensable role in the
overall development of the new generation which is sensitive and aware of its nation’s natural heritage
including biodiversity.
The Central Zoo Authority being the apex body for all zoos in India plays a commendable role in the field
of conservation and education. The Central Zoo Authority under the guidance of Ministry of Environment
and Forests ensures that all zoos follow the common conservation guidelines thus enriching the quality
of life of the zoo animals and simultaneously contributing to the conservation of wildlife.
ex-situ updates the maiden newsletter of the Central Zoo Authority is intended to play a major role
in creating awareness about the zoo movement in the country by highlighting the interventions in
design, breeding process, nutrition, education and zoo management. The newsletter will be a valuable
document in understanding the development of the zoo movement and in disseminating information to
the wider zoo community on conservation and healthcare of zoo animals.
I am sure the newsletter will be useful to zoo lovers, veterinarians, wildlife conservationists and
above all the young generation of the country. I congratulate Central Zoo Authority for this milestone
initiative of bringing out the first edition of ex-situ updates to disseminate zoo related information to all
stakeholders
.
Jayanthi Natarajan
1
Policy, Rules and Guidelines
of Central Zoo Authority
1. National Zoo Policy, 1998
FROM THE DESK OF
MEMBER SECRETARY
2. Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009
The Government of India has always recognized the importance of ex-situ
wildlife conservation, which has resulted in the establishment of many
modern zoos in major Indian cities after independence. The Central Zoo
Authority was established in 1992 to oversee the functioning of zoos in
the country and to provide them with technical and other assistance for
their improvement. Accordingly, the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992 was
formulated to fix standards and norms for scientific management of zoos. The National Zoo Policy, 1998 gives clear directions for the functioning of
zoos. It states that the main objective of zoos shall be to complement and
strengthen the national efforts in the conservation of rich biodiversity of
the country. To play the assigned role, the zoos need to have physically,
genetically and behaviorally healthy and self-sustaining populations of
desirable wild animal species. This is important not only for display but
also as insurance against future exigencies and release/ introduction/
reintroduction operations in the wild, if required. The Central Zoo Authority
is working in this direction. The amended Recognition of Zoo Rules,
2009 spells out the role of Central Zoo Authority more as a facilitator than
as a regulator.
ex-situ updates is an endeavor of Central Zoo Authority to provide current
information on the development of zoos, master planning, conservation
breeding, research programmes, education activities etc. The first issue
of the quarterly newsletter ex-situ updates being published by Central Zoo
Authority aims to provide updates to zoo managers and those involved in
zoo related activities on the initiatives taken in pursuance of the National
Zoo Policy, 1998, Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009 and decisions taken
from time to time in various Committees and Expert Groups.
I hope this endeavour to publish a quarterly newsletter (ex-situ updates)
will provide updates on happenings in zoos in India and abroad and will
help in managing existing zoos better and facilitate the identification and formulation of new, innovative activities for long-term development of
zoos in the country in future.
3. Guidelines for the scientific
management of zoos in India
a) Guidelines for grant of approval
for establishment of New Zoos
b) Guidelines for facilitating
effective and scientific mangement of Zoos in India
c) Guidelines for master plans
for zoos
d) Guidelines for prescribing
minimium size of feeding/
retiring cubicles and outdoor
enclosures
e) Guidelines for use of
innovative exhibit design and
barriers
f) Guidelines for exchange or
transfer of animals between
zoos
g) Guidelines for transport of
captive animals
h) Guidelines for marking of
animals and birds
4. Guidelines for conservation
breeding programmes
5. Protocol on transportation of wild
animals
B. S. BONAL
2
6. Guidelines on minimum
dimension of enclosures for
housing exotic animals of
different species in India.
– S K Patnaik
I
ndia has a very long tradition of
keeping wild animals in captivity
that dates back to the pre-historic
mythological ages of the Ramayan
and Mahabharat. In ancient times
the emperors, maharajas and rajas
did keep animals in captivity in their
palace complexes for the amusement
of their family members, courtesans
and other dignitaries and as status
symbols. Perhaps, these captive
animals included exotics, as indicated
by the depiction on the stone panels
of the Sun Temple of Konarak built in
the 14th Century, of a giraffe being
presented to a king. However, the
first modern day Indian zoo known
as The Indian Natural History Project,
came up at Barrackpore near Calcutta
(now Kolkata) in 1803. This was the first
such initiative in Asia or maybe even so
in the world.
However, after 50 years, in 1854
the next aviary/zoo was opened
by Raja Rajendra Mullick Bahadur
Bengal tigers at Sepahijala Zoo
Photo credit: Himanshu Malhotra
History of Zoo
Movement in India
in his private residential mansion
popularly known as ‘Marble Palace’
in the heart of Calcutta City. This
small zoo which is still in existence,
happens to be the oldest surviving
zoo in the country now. But in the
subsequent year, 1855 another zoo was
established by Madras Municipality
in Madras (now Chennai). However,
this zoo was closed in 1980 and the
animals were shifted to a new site, now
known as Arignar Anna Zoological
Park, Vandalur, Chennai.
As time passed more and more zoos
were established in different cities and
towns of India such as Trivandrum
(1857), Junagadh and Bombay
(1863), Jaipur and Calcutta (Alipore
Zoo) (1875), Baroda (1879), Mysore
(1892), Nagpur (1905), Lucknow and
Gwalior (1921), Udaipur (1935), Bikaner
and
Jodhpur
(1936)
in
the
pre-independence era. The animals
(nearly 250) of Barrackpore facility,
were transferred to Alipore Zoo in 1875
when the old facility was closed.
In 1892, Sri Ram Bramha Sanyal,
superintendent, Alipore Zoo wrote a
book on keeping different species of
zoo animals. This, perhaps, was the
first such book written on the subject
and a pioneering work. But the major
breakthrough in the establishment of
zoological parks took place after India’s
independence in 1947. A number of
modern zoos were established e.g in
Ahmedabad (1951), Darjeeling (1958),
Guwahati (1958), New Delhi (1959),
Nandankanan, Bhubaneswar (1960),
Hyderabad (1963), Kanpur (1968),
Chhatbir, Punjab (1979) and Vandalur,
Madras (1985). Many old zoos were
also remodeled on modern lines. Efforts
were also made to construct large,
naturalistic moated enclosures instead
of the cages preferred during the earlier
period. While National Zoological Park,
New Delhi had the contributions of
Karl Hegenbeck, it was, Pushp Kumar,
starting with Nehru Zoological Park,
Hyderabad who assisted many Indian
zoos in enclosure \ zoo designing.
The first notable attempt to
improve the conditions and to bring
all Indian zoos on one common
platform was made in 1956 by
the formation of a zoo wing of the
Indian Board of Wildlife. It met on
May 16,1956 for the first time. In
1973, the Government of India took a
major step by appointing the Expert
Committee on Zoos consisting of five
eminent scientists/ zoo personnel
for suggesting administrative and
technical measures for improving
the conditions of zoos and their
management in India. This report
served as a guideline for the
establishment of new zoos and
improvement of old zoos. This
report listed 47 zoos, both public
and private in the country. After
this, the directors of major
zoos used to meet in Delhi at
irregular intervals to exchange ideas
on zoo management and arrange
animal exchanges. In one such
meeting (3rd) in November 1985, it
was decided to meet outside Delhi
and the first such meeting was held
at Trivandrum in 1988.
3
Prior to the creation of the Central
Zoo Authority (CZA) in 1992, all
matters relating to the zoos of the
country were dealt with by a unit
headed by a joint director under the
Directorate of Wildlife, Ministry of
Environment & Forests. In November,
1988 the Wildlife Institute of India
initiated a three years Zoo Consultancy
Project in collaboration with all the
zoos of the country. After completing
the project, the Wildlife Institute of
India prepared a report on zoos of the
country and formulated guidelines on
(a) minimum standards for the
maintenance of wild animals in
captivity.
(b) model veterinary facilities for zoos
(c) management plans for zoos,
(d) captive breeding programmes,
(e) interpretative and educational
programmes within zoos
(f) training programmes for different
categories of zoo personnel on zoo
management,
(g) conducting research on wild
animals in captivity and
(h) structure, role and function of the
proposed central unit under the
Government of India as a nodal
agency for better management and
development of the zoos in the
country.
The creation of Central Zoo Authority
in 1992 is a follow up of these
recommendations.
The
1991,
amendment of the Wildlife (Protection)
Act, 1972 lists the structure, role
and powers of this authority, which
is a statutory body of the MoEF.
This authority functioned under
4
the chairmanship of the Minister,
Environment and Forests. The idea
of forming the Indian Zoo Directors’
Association (IZDA) was mooted at the
third All India Zoo Directors Conference
(AIZDC) held in November, 1985 at
the National Zoological Park, New
Delhi. In the 4th AIZDC held at
Trivandrum (Kerala) in June, 1988,
a draft constitution of IZDA was put
up for discussion. Further, detailed
discussions were held on the
constitution of IZDA in January,
1989 at Bhubaneswar, Orissa and at
the January, 1990 meeting held at
Junagadh (Gujarat), it was given a
final shape. Elections were held for the
posts of one chairman and four vicechairman (from four regions of the
country) of IZDA in January 1990 for the
first time. The Director of the National
Zoological Park, New Delhi was
nominated as member-secretary of the
Association on a permanent basis. The
IZDA was registered at Cuttack, Orissa
on July 30, 1991. This association has
been able to bring out a number of
volumes of Indian Zoo Yearbook and
Compendium of Scientific Papers on
Zoos, besides some issues of IZDA/
CZA newsletter with the support of the
CZA. The Zoo Outreach Organization
(ZOO), Coimbatore has also played it
role in bringing out ZOO’s Print and
ZOO ZEN and other publications on
scientific and management aspects of
zoos.
In January, 1989, the Nandankanan
Biological Park, Orissa brought out
the first Directory of Indian Zoos containing detailed information of only 49
zoos, mini zoos, deer parks, snake
parks and aquariums as information
on others was not readily available. It
was brought out on the occasion of the
5th Indian Zoo Directors’ meeting held
at Bhubaneswar, Orissa.
After the formation of the CZA, despite
a multiplicity of ownership of different
zoos like the state forest departments,
municipal corporations/ municipalities,
corporate
bodies,
educational
institutions, some control has been
established. The zoos are being
evaluated and advice is being given to
them for their improvement. Training for
different personnel has been organised
and funding is being provided for
Old cage, Junagarh Zoo
different purposes to improve the
zoos. Many research projects have
been taken up, regional health centers
and institutions like LaCONES (stepup in 1998 with focus on conservation
of endangered species like the lions,
tigers and other rare species on the
verge of extinction) have been set up
and a number of books published with
the support of the authority. Despite
these efforts, some zoos which have
not been able to meet the standard set
by CZA have been closed, some have
been or are being relocated to new
spacious sites or are being modernised.
Now, the total number of large,
medium, small and mini zoos including
rescue centres and circuses comes
to 198. There has been perceptible
improvement in most major zoos
and conservation breeding, research
and education are being given the
highest priority, while the process of
preparation of master plans for long
term development of all the zoos is in
progress. So far, Master Plans of a fair
number of zoos have been finalised.
The CZA and some individual zoos
have also established close links
with different international institutions
like WAZA, ISIS and zoos abroad. Thus,
the future of zoos in India looks very
bright and promising and they can play
a very proactive role in conservation
breeding of endangered species
and their reintroduction into the wild.
Besides, the zoos provide improved
living conditions for the animals and
the visitor interest and satisfaction has
become better.
The author is a retired CWLW of Govt. of Odisha and member of CZA and Central
Empowered Committee of Govt. of India.
Photo credit: Himanshu Malhotra
According to a survey undertaken by
the Government of India through
the Wildlife Institute of India (1990)
there were 98 established zoos and
5 zoos under construction in the
country. Besides, there were 189
other institutions keeping wild animals
in captivity such as deer parks,
safari park, snake parks, aquariums
nature parks, education centres
and breeding centres. These 189
institutions were spread throughout
the country in almost all the
states. At one point of time around
1993, there were reportedly 430 zoos /
mini zoos/deer parks in the country.
Photo credit: Himanshu Malhotra
A
CZ
an
ved nt of
o
r
app al gra or the
n
f
e
itio
hs
rag
add 19 lak a sto
f
t
7
.
o
2
)a
ct
Rs. uction down Proje
o
tr
g
s
n
G
i
(
n
ed jala
co cility
Bre
hi
fa
ion Sepa ,
t
a
v
k
r
e
e
h
Par
tt
ns
Co Site a ogical
a
l
l
Zoo garta
A
T
CZA
Binturong at Sepahijala Zoo
An overview
Photo credit: Himanshu Malhotra
– S.C.Sharma
Painted Storks in Delhi Zoo
Despite being quite concerned
about deteriorating situation
about the zoos in the
country, the Government of
India could not do much to
arrest this negative trend
in absence of any statuary/
legal powers in zoo related
matters. It was under this
desperate situation that
the Government of India
established the Central Zoo
Authority.
he establishment of Central Zoo
Authority and its functions
have been appropriately dealt
in the article of S.K Patnaik titled “Zoo
movement in India.” By the beginning
of the 7th decade of the 20th century,
there was a global realization that
the relevance of zoos in the future
would depend on their capability
to evolve as wildlife conservation
centers and to contribute to long term
conservation of natural resources by
way of mustering public support for the
cause. This development spurred the
Government of India to form a Group of
Experts to study the management status
of the zoos operating at that point of
time and make recommendations
for enhancing their conservation role.
The Group made very comprehensive
guidelines on the subject, most of
which are quite valid even today.
The guidelines were accepted by the
Government of India and forwarded
to the state governments and the
zoo operators for compliance. It was
sad that traditional perception of
zoos continued to prevail in the
minds of the people in power and
the excellent guidelines by and large
remained ignored but for establishment
of two or three good zoos viz, M.C.
Zoological Park, Chatbir (Punjab),
Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai
and Tirupati Zoological Park, Tirupati.
Ill-conceive, unplanned dingy zoos
mushroomed at an unprecedented
pace throughout the seventh and
eighth decade and early part of ninth
decade in utter disregard of the
guidelines issued by the Government
of India.
Despite being quite concerned about
the deteriorating situation of zoos
in the
country, the Government
of India could not do much to arrest
this negative trend in absence of any
statuary/legal powers in zoo related
matters. It was under this desperate
situation that the Government of India
established the Central Zoo Authority.
5
The table given below will make the situation amply clear:
Number of Zoos (Area Category wise in ha )
Year of
Establishment
≥50
20-50
10-20
5-10
≤5
Total
Prior to 1950
1
3
2
7
6
19
1951 to 1960
4
1
3
4
7
19
1961 to 1970
0
2
4
3
5
14
1971 to 1980
11
11
9
7
55
93
1981 to 1990
11
7
8
9
86
121
13
22
4
134
175
37
38
34
294
440
1991 to 1993
Total
27
come up to the prescribed standards
and norms had to be given conditional
recognition, prescribing a time frame
in which the inadequacies were to be
redressed. However it was amply clear
that the zoos had neither the resources
nor the technical know how to redress
the problem on their own. Therefore
the next priority of the authorities was
to facilitate the zoos in their development on scientific lines.
*Besides there were 23 mobile zoos also
Identification of zoos which
had the potential to develop
The zoos whose continuation was
not found in the interest of wildlife
conservation were given time to
improve and if needed shift to
alternative site. The zoos which failed
to improve were asked to close down
and the zoos which had the potential
to improve and showed willingness
to improve were granted recognition
and allowed to continue operation.
At the time of the first evaluation no zoo
in the country conformed to any of the
standards and norms notified in the
Recognition of Zoo Rules. Therefore
the zoos which had the potential to
Hornbill at Sepahijala Zoo
Area-wise break up of zoos granted recognition and still operational
≥50 ha
20-50ha
10-20ha
5-10 ha
≤ 5 ha
TOTAL
33
25
29
31
58*
176
*includes 24 rescue centres, 3 breeding centres and 5 snake parks
6
Improvement of zoos which
had the potential to develop
The Central Zoo Authority requested
the Government of India to allocate
sufficient funds for meeting the
Photo credit: Himanshu Malhotra
The task ahead of the Central Zoo
Authority was to categorize the existing
zoos in two categories i.e. those zoos
continuance of which was in the interest
of wildlife conservation and the zoos
the continuance of which was not in
the interest of wildlife conservation. To
achieve this goal the authority finalized
the standards and norms regarding
housing, upkeep, health care and other
matters related to zoos and got them
notified as Recognition Of Zoo Rules
1992 by the Government. Thereafter
the long drawn process of evaluation
of the zoos was taken up.
Photo credit: Himanshu Malhotra
some zoo supervisors are also sent
for advanced training abroad. Capsule
training programmes for zoo keepers
are also organized every year in every
region of the country. To begin with, the
Recognition of Zoo Rules concentrated
more on routine animal maintenance
issues but with the rise in the capabilities
of the zoos greater emphasis is being
put on higher issues like master
planning,
conservation
breeding,
tranquilization and visitor education.
The Recognition of Zoo Rules were
amended in 2009 to provide required
thrust on these issues. Minimizing
the impact on the natural landscape
of the area is also an important
component of the rules now.
Augmenting the health care
facilities
Clouded leopard at Sepahijala Zoo
developmental needs of the zoos.The
request was gladly accepted by the
Government. Over last 20 years more
than 150 crores have been provided
by the authorities as grant to various
zoos for improvement of animal
housing, development and upkeep
of infrastructure and upgrading and
creation of health care facilities. An
expert group has been set up in the
authority to advise the zoos on animal
enclosure designing and approving the
enclosure designs submitted by the
zoos to the authority. The evaluation
teams, consisting of zoo experts
visit the zoos periodically to tender
advise to them on all matters related
with zoo planning and conservation.
Meetings of zoo directors, zoo vets,
educators and biologists are held
annually to expose them to new
concepts of zoo management and to
get their feedback on the approach
being adopted by the authority.
Two week capsule courses are also
organized in alternate years for the
zoo directors and zoo supervisors for
providing specialized inputs to
them on different aspects of zoo
management. One zoo director and
one zoo veterinarian are sent every
year to Jersey Wildlife Preservation
Trust, U.K for attending the three
week course on ‘Conservation of
Endangered Species’. Periodically
Central Zoo Authority has been giving
the highest priority to the animal
health care facilities. Substantial
investments have been made for
providing appropriate equipment and
literature to the zoo hospitals but high
rates of mortalities continue to plague
the zoos.
A lack of experienced
veterinarians continue to be a serious
limiting factor. The authority therefore
decided to involve the eminent
veterinary institutions in the health
management of zoo animals and
established Regional Health Centres
by providing grants to carry out
investigation and diagnosis of diseases
in zoo animals and provide prophylactic
treatment. Grants were given
to
Khanpara Veterinary College, Assam,
Department of Veterinary Sciences,
Agriculture University, Bhuvaneshwar,
Madras Veterinary College, Chennai,
Anand Veterinary College and the
Indian Vetenary Research Institute.
The arrangement has proved quite
successful.
Veterinary workshops
were organized alternate years in
different places like Indian Veterinary
Research Institute 1996, Delhi 2003,
Chennai 2010.
Conservation of endangered
species
Conservation of endangered species
has been quite high on the agenda
of the authority. With the objective
of providing proper orientation to
zoos of the country the following
workshops were organized with the
help of international experts:
1. General- Zoo vision workshop
1994, Future strategy workshop
Hyderabad 1998 & The Conservation
breeding &
Genetic Management
workshop Delhi 2000.
2. PHVA workshops- Lion Tailed Macaque (1993), Indian Lion (1993),
Sangai, Swamp Deer (1995), Red
Panda(1994) & Ghariyal(1994).
Central Zoo Authority has already
identified priority species for conservation breeding programmes and the
programmes of breeding 20 species
have already been launched. To provide technical support to the programme, research projects have been
launched for several species and field
biologists placed in various zoos.
Genetic management
Central Zoo Authority with the help
of CSIR and Department of Science
& Technology, GOI has established
the Laboratory on Conservation of
Endangered Species at Hyderabad with
DNA and Cryopreservation facilities.
All the animals to be used in the
conservation breeding are being
subjected to detailed DNA mapping
to ensure that no related animals are
allowed to breed.
CZA while providing the zoos of the
country a proper direction, has also
done well in accommodating and
rehabilitating 400 lions and about 100
tigers rescued from circuses. Sloth
Bears held with madaris have also
been successfully rehabilitated by the
Bear Rescue Centre, Agra. Rescue
Centres for leopards have also been
established.
Central Zoo Authority has undoubtedly
done very well in bringing up the
zoos of the country from the dire
state of management to a state of
preparedness for taking up the role of
centres of conservation.
The author is the founder Member Secretary of
CZA and a retired Additional Director General of
Forests (WL) Government of India.
7
Dr. Shyama Prasad
Mukherjee Zoological
Garden acquires
Asiatic Lions
Zoo
News
Photo credit: Mysore Zoo
For the first time, the Dr. Shyama
Prasad
Mukherjee
Zoological
Garden, Surat, has acquired two
Asiatic lions in its collection of
animals. The lions were procured
by the zoo recently in exchange for
exotic birds with the Sakkarbaug
zoo at Junagadh.The lions are subadults.
Mysore Zoo has become the
proud owner of three young
cheetah cubs
The Cheetah (Acinonyxjubatus) is a
vulnerable species. Four adult
Cheetahs were received by Sri
Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens
(Mysore Zoo) from Rhino Lion
Nature
Reserves,
Muldersdrift,
Brodedtrstroom, South Africa on
behalf of Leipzig Zoo, Germany,
in an animal exchange programme
in March 2011. Out of four animals,
one of the females indicated signs
of pregnancy. After 20 days of
observation, the female was taken
to a squeeze cage for examination
and for collection of blood sample
for laboratory analysis to check vital
organ functions. It was observed that
the female was in good condition
and had well developed mammary
glands, indicative of pregnancy.
With the help of animal keepers,
the holding room of the enclosure,
where the pregnant cheetah was
housed, was prepared for parturition.
CCTV infrared (day & night vision)
cameras were placed in all three
holding rooms. The recording DVR
with inbuilt display monitor was
placed in an adjacent holding room
of a different enclosure to provided
undisturbed monitoring of activities.
The Cheetah was comfortable
with the arrangements and finally
delivered on 27/05/2011, a month
after its arrival from South Africa.
It took 4 hours and 20 minutes to
deliver three cubs. All three cubs
have been doing well.
Photo credit: Mysore Zoo
Christening baby Hippo
‘Dimpy”
Kamla Nehru Prani Sangrhalaya
Zoo, Indore
witnessed the
Christening ceremony of a baby
Hippo. The baby was born on
31/8/2011. A local radio channel
94.3 MyFM actively participated in
the christening ceremony “what
should be the name of baby hippo”.
During the campaign the channel,
received 2000 names from the
children and people of Indore city.
On the last day of Wildlife Week
the chief guest Mahendra Hardia,
Minister for Health, & Mayor of
Indore finally shortlisted 10 names
out of the 2000 names. On the basis
of the recommendations of the
children present in the ceremony
the name “Dimpy” was selected
Dimpy Hippo with mother
Photo credit: KNPS, Indore
8
Asiatic lions
CZA
approved
financial
assistance of
Rs. 67 lakhs for
development work at
Biological Park,
Itanagar
CZA
approved a grant
of Rs.14.00 lakhs for
the research on
Conservation Breeding of
Indian pangolin at
Nandankanan Zoological
Park,
Bhubaneswar
CZA
approved financial
assistance of
Rs. 57.52 lakhs for
development works at
Nagaland Zoological
Park,
Rangapahar
Photo credit: Himanshu Malhotra
circumstances can be prevented from
going extinct is to maintain individuals in
artificial conditions under human
supervision.
The expertise,infrastructure and stock
of wild animals in various captive
breeding facilities including zoos can
play a pivotal role in saving many
species from extinction. Ex-situ wildlife
conservation is a young and
controversial discipline, seen by some
as inspiring and important, while others
view these efforts as overreaching,
expansive and inefficient use of
resources. Despite the controversy,
ex-situ wildlife conservation is evolving
into a key discipline for conservation
of critically endangered wild animal
species. The history of re-introduction
from captive propagation is
discouraging, but hardly more so than
preservation in nature. Each approach
has something to offer, but each by itself
is too specialised for the complexity of
modern conservation and multiplicity
of responses it depends upon.
Importance of
Captive Breeding in Zoos
Golden langur
Photo credit: Himanshu Malhotra
Ex-situ wildlife conservation
is a young and controversial
discipline, seen by some
as inspiring and important,
while others view these
efforts as overreaching,
expansive and inefficient
use of resources.
Pygmy hog
In 1986 in a landmark paper, ‘the
millennium ark: how long a voyage,
how many sate rooms, how many
passengers?’ M.Soule and others
carved out a scheme for optimal
allocation of global zoo space
CZA
coupled to the application
approved a grant
of merging ex-situ wildlife
of Rs 43.24 lakhs for
conservation science. Their
the conservation
– Dr Brij Raj Sharma
proposal is perhaps the most
breeding of the Golden
elegant
presentation to date
langur at Assam
he best strategy
in
terms
of making efficient,
State Zoo
for the long term
sustainable and conservationprotection
of
wildlife
relevant use of zoo space. The
is its conservation in its natural Ark paradigm as described by M.Soul
community in the wild. Only in natural and his friends responds to the then
communities are animals able to predicted ‘demographic winter’ of 500continue their process of evolutionary 1.500 years after which the current
adaptation to a changing environment. trend of environmental degradation
However, in the face of increasing would be expected to stabilise, allowing
human activities, in situ conservation is for the re-establishment of wild areas.
not currently a viable option for many The authors proposed a role for exrare species and species may decline situ breeding in sustaining a sub-set of
or go extinct in the wild for any of the species through this period.
reasons like: loss of genetic variation and
in-breeding depression, demographic To retain their value as a genetic
and environmental variability, insufficient reservoir, a target of retaining 90%
habitat, deteriorating habitat quality, of wild source gene diversity in these
habitat fragmentation, competition populations was proposed, offering
from invasive species, disease and an intuitive threshold between the
excessive hunting and collecting. It is need to retain genetic diversity and
likely that the only way species in such the constraints of available space.
T
9
To maintain genetic variation and avoid
inbreeding in small captive populations
requires orchestrated breeding strategy.
10
The task is defined: to keep as many
endangered species as possible
alive in captivity for as long as is
necessary (which could be even
centuries) in a state in which they
are capable of returning to the wild.
Most animals can be kept alive.
Most can be induced to breed,
at least from time to time. The
problems that remain are of biology,
in particular of genetics, and
of logistics. Noah, according to
Genesis, saved all the creatures that
were then alive simply by taking a
pair of each kind into the Ark. At
first sight, this seems a reasonable
strategy. A healthy young male
and a healthy young female
are enough to start a family,
and then a lineage. Noah was
blessed with divine intervention.
In practice, there are many issues
which need consideration. One issue
is accidents, which includes disease
and the possibility of infertility.
Then there is the matter of
demographic stochasticity (sex ratio
and infant mortality) and biology
(reproductive and behavioural)
including genet ics.
The need for ex-situ conservation
of wild fauna as one of the main
objectives for management of zoos was
realised by the Government of India
soon after independence and the then
Indian Board for Wildlife (now the
National Board for Wildlife) made
important recommendations in this
regard. To give proper direction and
thrust to the management of zoos in
the country, the National Zoo Policy
was framed and adopted by the
Government of India in the year 1998.
The National Wildlife Action Plan
(2002 - 2016) also lays emphasis on
the role of zoos for ex situ breeding
of endangered species of wild fauna
and their rehabilitation into the wild.
The Central Zoo Authority has been
identified as the organisation for
developing capabilities in this field. The
Central Zoo Authority felt that critically
endangered wild animal species with
few hundred/ thousand (or say less than
2,500) left in the wild need to be taken
up for ex-situ conservation breeding
in the zoos on an immediate basis in
the country.
Clouded leopard cub
The Authority has identified 73 critically
endangered wild animal species for
planned and coordinated conservation
breeding in Indian zoos. It was also
felt in the Central Zoo Authority that
Indian zoos have to have at least
100 properly and scientifically bred
and physically, genetically and
behaviourally healthy individuals of
each endangered wild animal species in
captivity, to act as insurance cover in
case of population loss of the species
in the wild. Three objectives, that
is having proper captive stock for
continuous display in Indian zoos, to
have properly bred animals to act as
insurance in the case of collapse of their
wild populations and for reintroduction
or release in the wild in case needed, is
the base of Conservation Breeding and
Recovery Programme for Endangered
Species in India.
To bring in holistic development and
to achieve the objective which can
complement the national effort of wildlife conservation in India, the Indian
zoos need to infuse more technical and
scientific culture in their operations.
More than 90% of the recognised
zoos in the country are operated and
controlled by the state forest/ wildlife
departments. These are also managing
the in-situ facilities that make the
coordination between the in-situ and
ex-situ wildlife conservation activities
much easier. The wild animals bred as
Photo credit: Himanshu Malhotra
Further, recognising the large size of
captive populations needed to meet
this target over 500-1,500 years,
they instead proposed a 200 year
target, arguing that within 200 years
technological
developments
will
allow much less space-intensive
means of preserving populations
through cryopreservation of gametes
and
assisted
reproduction.
Coincidentally, this accords well
with recent UN (2004) 100-200 year
estimates for the time frame for achieving
a stable human population size. In
short, the authors were proposing
that ex-situ facilities around the world
collaborate to establish a modern day
Noah’s Ark. So powerful was this vision
that it drove considerable global activity
for the next decade.The world’s zoos
embarked on unprecedented levels
of cooperation. Many cooperative
conservation breeding programmes
were initiated worldwide and adopted
standard targets of retaining 90% of
wild source gene diversity for 200
years. The Convention on Biodiversity,
1992 has recommended measures
for the ex-situ conservation of the
components of biological diversity,
preferably in the country of origin of
such components (Article 9). The
World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation
Strategy, 2005 advocates integrated
conservation, bringing together in situ
and ex situ to achieve conservation
priorities. In India, the National Zoo
Policy, 1998 and National Wildlife
Action Plan (2002-2016) lay emphasis
on the role of zoos for ex-situ
breeding of endangered species
of wild fauna and their rehabilitation
in the wild. It is a tall order, far beyond
the existing capabilities. But now is
the time to look ahead, co-operate
and plan, before options are further
narrowed. Some initiatives/attempts
have been made in different parts of
the world including India for planned,
co-ordinated conservation breeding of
identified endangered wild animal
species and re-introduction of such
captive born wild animals into their
wild habitats with varying degrees of
success. The attempts are multiplying
and are getting better at it.
part of the coordinated conservation
breeding activity, will occasionally
be released in the identified habitats.
The main purpose of this will be to
have hands on experience and
develop the mechanism for such
operations, so that this can be used
in case of exigencies in formal release
operations, zoos may have to conduct
in future.
Extinction crises continue apace
worldwide. Solutions are being
sought on a number of fronts, with
multi-country agreements. Captive
wild animal facilities should also
position themselves, to make a useful
and meaningful contribution to the
conservation of wildlife. The zoos have
come a long way from being takers
from wild to conservation breeding
centres releases in the wild. Some
species will be viable only as a part
of a meta-populations maintained by
translocations or re-introductions.
Many will survive only in undersized
protected areas, where curatorial
management and veterinary aids are
available. Major task of conventional
conservation organisations is to save
functioning ecosystems. Whereas,
major tasks for zoos and conservation
breeding is to assisting in saving nonfunctional ecosystems.
Nevertheless, in conservation,
conservation breeding and re-
introduction are the last resort.
Zoos and captive breeding facilities
are just like life-boats on the ‘Titanic.’
If managed and maintained properly
they will be able to save some of the
first-class passengers, called critically
‘endangered species.’ What matters
most is that animals should survive in
sufficient variety and numbers, and with
enough of their behaviour intact, to take
them back to the wild in some future,
more relaxed and more enlightened
time. Conservation breeding can help
that to happen. If an animal lives as
a member of a social group that is
proper for its species, feeds upon its
near natural feed, finds its own mate
and rears its own offspring, it does
not seem to matter much if it is also
protected from predators, or its area
has limitations. Conservation breeding
should be seen to be only a part of
the spectrum that extends from the
intensive care to the wilderness, of the
conservation endeavour.
India also has its fair share of
problems and responsibilities. India’s
Conservation Breeding and Recovery
Programme for Endangered Species,
if implemented properly will be able
to save some of the most critically
endangered wild animal species in the
subcontinent. In a few centuries’
time’ if all goes well, the importance
of zoos as conservation breeding
units will diminish. For the present, its
significance must grow. For the next
few centuries, it must be perceived as
a necessary part of civilisation.
The author is CCF in Government of West
Bengal and ex-Member Secretary of CZA.
Zoo
News
NZP to have a new look
The National Zoological Park, Delhi
released its Master (Layout) plan on
its Foundation Day, 1st November
2011. The Plan proposes to overhaul
the zoo to include better facilities
for both animals and the visitors.
The display themes in the Zoo will
be rearranged imparting a national
character to the park. The Zoo will
accommodate over 200 species
and more than 2000 inmates.
The themes will include Central
Indian Highlands, Peninsular India,
Himalayan foothills as well as
exotic
themes
such
as
Africana etc. Thirty nine of the
existing
enclosures
will
be
upgraded. A new Visitor Centre
has been proposed which includes
an Education Centre, a Food
Court, a Souvenir shop and Public
Conveniences.
Photo credit: Himanshu Malhotra
Wildlife Week celeberations
Snow leopard
Red panda
During the first week of October
2011 all zoos all over the country
observed Wildlife Week. Many
events were organized which
included programmes for school
children like painting, photography
and clay modeling competitions.
Exhibitions
and
educational
tours were organized to create
awareness in the public.
Photo credit: Himanshu Malhotra
11
Bear enclosure at Assam State Zoo
– Dr Brij Kishor Gupta
T
he era of designing of zoos with
modern concepts began in our
country when the Indian Board for
Wildlife in its meeting in 1952 decided
that the Central Government should
set up a modern zoos in major cities of
the country for educating the people at
large on the rich fauna of the country
and the need to conserve it.
Consequently, the construction work of
Delhi Zoo (know as National Zoological
Park) was started in 1955. The
government wanted the Delhi Zoo to be
a really world class zoo and therefore,
hired the services of the world’s most
renowned zoo designer of that era,
Carl Hagenbeck, owner of Hamburg
Zoo(Germany) to prepare the Master
Plan of the Delhi Zoo.The services of
the director of Colombo Zoo were also
hired to assist the government officials
in the construction phase of the Delhi
Zoo.The construction work of the zoo
was completed by 1959, when the zoo
was opened to the public.
A specialised zoo for high hill fauna
was also set up by the Department
of
Science
and
Technology,
Government of India in collaboration
with the government of West Bengal
12
at Darjeeling in 1958 and was named
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological
Park on the name of the then governor
of West Bengal. Later, well planned
zoos were set up by the Governments
of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Assam
at Hyderabad (1959), Bhubaneswar
(1960)
and
Guwahati
(1957)
respectively.
Zoos were blessed by the appointment
of the Committee of Zoo Experts by the
Central Government, who suggested
measures for improving the efficiency
of various operations involved in the
zoo management.
The
report
recommended
that
‘enclosures in a zoo should be
sufficiently large to give fullest
opportunity to breeding rituals like
chasing, dancing and exploration, and
should have hiding places for privacy of
the animals. The zoo operator should
simulate the natural habitat of the
animal housed as closely as possible’.
Enrichment
In order to equip such enclosures to
meet the biological requirement for a
wide range of activities like foraging,
exploration,
territorial
patrolling,
marking territorial boundaries, avoiding
predators,
wallowing,
climbing,
burrowing and seeking mates, it is
important that we provide species
specific environmental enrichment to
the animals housed in an enclosure at
the time of conceptualising the design
of the exhibit. It is imperative that the
animal’s demands with regard to
social behaviour includes parenting,
courtship and other interactive
activities being met. All these activities
involve constant alertness to visual,
oral and olfactory stimuli. Even during
the inactivity period in the wild, the
animals are involved in setting up and
constructing secure refuges such as
nests, burrows, dens and searching
tree holes.
Why is enrichment Important?
Wild animals spend considerable time
and energy finding and processing
food, building nests and defending their
territories. Most of their waking hours
may be spent meeting these needs.
The high quality of care provided
in a captive environment, significantly
reduces the time an animal must
spend in these pursuits, but does
not address the behavioural needs
Photo credit: Himanshu Malhotra
Designing of Zoos and
Importance of Enrichment
associated with these activities. It
has become necessary to provide
alternative methods of stimulating
natural foraging behaviour to meet
both the mental and physical needs
of the captive animal. Enrichment can
promote species-typical behaviour
by providing animals with a complex
and unpredictable environment. That
environment may include activities
that are both challenging and time
consuming and may serve several
functions, such as:
a) improving animal well-being by
increasing exercise, satisfying
behavioural needs and optimising
the level of stimulation animals
receive, while also attempting to
reduce
abnormal
behaviour
patterns;
b) educating both animal caretakers
and zoo visitors by increasing
natural behaviours, visibility and
activity levels;
c) assisting in the conservation of
endangered species by improving
the success of captive breeding
and reintroduction programmes
through improvements in social
group composition, the promotion
of normal physiological and
psychological development, and
the maintenance of behaviours that
may be required for survival in the
wild.
To achieve the continued benefits of
enrichment, care must be taken to
ensure that novelty is maintained. A
random or rotating schedule of
enrichment is needed to keep the
animal’s interest. The natural world
constantly changes, forcing animals
to adapt to new situations. Novel
enrichment can stimulate the same
flexibility.
We know that in the zoo environment,
the environmental complexity is missing
and the animal has to make little effort
for getting its food and security. The
availability of space for movement and
other physical activities like digging,
burrowing or nesting, is also limited and
the animals can no longer express their
natural behaviour. Lack of stimuli to take
up any physical activity (absence of
hunger and insecurity) and continued
stress due to non-fulfilment of natural
It is important that we
provide species specific
environmental enrichment
to the animals housed
in enclosure at the time
of conceptualising the
design of the exhibit.
behaviour lead to the development
of aberrant/ stereotypic behaviour in
the animals, which make them look
pathetic.
There is no denying the fact that it is
neither feasible nor practical to simulate
the conditions of the wild in the zoo, still
the zoo operators can provide the zoo
animals ample opportunities to express
their natural behaviour through
imaginative enclosure designing and
planned enrichment. The technical
help of behavioural biologists may be
obtained in developing the appropriate
enrichment plan for the wild animals.
Primate enrichment
Photo credit: Dr. Brij Kishor Gupta
The important components of
environmental enrichment are:
(i) Keep animals in compatible social
groups. Provide adequate three
dimensional space for exercising
the normal movement behaviour
patterns that is walking, flying and
climbing.
(ii) Provide suitable substrate to
facilitate the animals to satisfy their
digging, burrowing and exploratory
instincts.
(iii) Provide suitable trees, shrubs and
bushes in the enclosures to provide
the animals opportunities for
climbing, swinging, feeding, clawing,
playing and rubbing the antlers.
Trees take substantial time to
grow to the required sizes. During
the interim period, appropriately
sized logs/ branches of trees could
be used to meet the behavioural
needs of the animals. There should
be
provision
of
alternative
enclosures for the ungulates living
in larger social groups, bears and
primates so that the animals could
be shifted from one enclosure to
the other to facilitate recovery of
vegetation.
(iv)Burrows/ dens could also be
constructed to facilitate the animals
to hibernate or to take shelter during
extreme weather conditions.
(v)Plant grass and reeds to provide
cover area for the animals.
(vi)Fix mud pots, tree hollows, bamboo
baskets to meet nesting and egg
laying by birds.
Function of environmental
enrichment
In captivity, most of the physiological
needs of an animal are provided by
its keepers, but a wild counterpart will
conversely expend energy meeting
these needs in an unpredictable
environment. Enrichment can promote
species-typical behaviour by providing
the animals with a complex and
unpredictable environment.
Uses of enrichment
In the wild, the animals have to
search for their food, shelter, con
specifics, predators and defend
territories. Changes in enclosure
structures, feeding schedules or
social groupings, can reduce
neurotic stereotypical behaviours
such as pacing or over-grooming.
Also, it can promote behaviours
which resemble those observed in
the wild. An enriched environment
should also offer a captive animal
a sense of control resulting from
the ability to make choices for itself, whether or not to hide, what
kind of temperature and weather
to experience, and when and how
to feed.
13
Uses of enrichment in zoos,
rehabilitation
and
rescue
centres
At zoos and rehabilitation and rescue
centres, environmental enrichment is
useful in securing animal welfare. Also,
it may enhance training procedures
for those animals that are intended
to be released, stimulating different
natural behaviours such as foraging,
orientation, avoidance of predators and
participating in social relationships.
In zoos the animal collection is mostly
stable and animals are confined to
particular enclosures and exhibits.
On the other hand rescue and
rehabilitation centres manage floating
populations of different species,
depending on localisation site, time
of the year, educational campaigns
and law enforcement. Also, rescue
and rehabilitation centres can not
have specialised enclosures for the
species like zoos have. This makes
the development of environmental
enrichment programmes more difficult
in these kind of centres than in zoos.
Despite some operating differences,
research on environmental enrichment
in zoos is definitely useful for rescue
and rehabilitation centres. Never mind
the place, the aim is always the same
to encourage normal behaviours.
Photo credit: AAZP, Vandalur
The author is Evaluation and Monitoring officer
with CZA and also member of Expert Group on
Zoo designing of CZA.
Bear eating frozen watermelon
14
Global News
CZA News
WAZA highest award Heini
Hediger Award 2011 goes
to Gordon McGregor Reid
CBSG & WAZA
Annual Conference
Gordon McGregor Reid is both a
zoo man and an academic. He is the
author of more than 200 published
works
including
books,
peer-reviewed scientific papers and
popular articles.
WAZA nominates NZP
The National Zoological Park New
Delhi has been nominated as an
institutional member of WAZA. The
membership has been sponsored
by the Central Zoo Authority.
Primates get a website
of their own
Primate Conservation, Inc (PCI)
announced the opening of All the
World’s Primates website at www.
alltheworld primates.org. Based on
submissions from conservationists,
scientist, photographers, it is a
comprehensive resource base for
researchers and students.
Bats get friends
Through October Johannesburg
Zoo highlighted the role bats play in
the urban environment. “Dispelling
the Myth“ & “Urban Bat Conservation”,
were the basic themes under which
the Zoo hosted events like talks,
bat tracking evenings, general bat
education and urban conservation
of bats.
WAZA 2014 - India has been
selected as venue for WAZA
Conference. The Central Zoo
Authority in collaboration with
National Zoological Park, New
Delhi will be hosting it.
The CBSG Annual Meeting was
held in the city of Prague, Czech
Republic from 30th September
– 2nd October with the focus
on “One Plan” approach for
integrated species conservation
planning. The working groups
included strategies education in
the “Decade of the Biodiversity”,
revised IUCN technical guidelines
for ex-situ management, paradigm
shifts needed in the conservation
community, and needed tools and
processes for intensive population
management. During the meeting,
charge of the IUCN, SSC, CBSG
was also transferred from Mr.
Robert Lacy to Ms. Onnie Byers.
The WAZA Conference was held
from 2nd to 6th October 2011.
Over 200 participants from 40
different countries came together
to discuss how to intensify
partnerships
for
sustaining
viable animal populations. Over
20 high level presentations
from experts around the world,
addressed the future situation
of animal populations, animal
welfare and conservation. During
workshops a discussion on
the “Decade on Biodiversity”
(2011-2020) declared by the
United Nations was a highlight.
Being an Affiliate member of
a global organization WAZA
(World Association of Zoos &
Aquariums) and Protector in
CBSG, Shri B.S. Bonal, Member
Secretary, Central Zoo Authority,
attended
the
Conference.
This WAZA Annual Conference
was also the occasion to define
its next objectives under 5 main
themes declared by the newly
elected WAZA President Jörg
Junhold who took over from Mr.
Mark Penning:i) Involvement of all members for
the United Nations Decade on
Biodiversity.
ii) Commitment of WAZA
members to cooperate on the
sustainable management of animal
populations;
iii) Improvement of ethical standards
for the future;
iv) Further WAZA membership
growth with a focus on Asian
countries;
v)Improvement
of
WAZA
communication outreach
Landscape Planning and
Zoo Designing:
A major agenda of CZA
During the current year, the Central
Zoo Authority has organized zoo
directors’ workshop on “Landscape Planning and Zoo Designing” at Hyderabad from 2nd – 5th
November, 2011 in collaboration with
the Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad. A one-day back-to-back workshop was also organized on 5th
November, 2001 on “the issues of
Master Planning” at the same place.
Around 65 zoo directors/ officers
in-charge attended the workshop. Some of the key speakers were
Mr. Jon Coe (Australia), Mr. Roger
Shermon (USA), Mr. B. C. Choudhary, Mr. P.C. Tyagi (Dehradun), Sh.
S. C. Sharma, Coordinator (Subgroup A), Sh. S. K. Patnaik (Subgroup B), Sh. R. S. Bhadauria (Subgroup C), Sh. B. S. Bonal, Sh Brij
Kishor Gupta (CZA), Prof. Rommel
Mehta (Delhi).
Zoo Record Keepers
Workshop
Workshop for Zoo Architects
An orientation workshop for
zoo architects was held at Delhi
in collaboration with School of
Planning and Architecture, New
Delhi from 24th February to 26th
February 2012.
Workshop on landscape planning and zoo
designing, Hyderabad
Evaluation of Zoos: CZA’s
revises questionnaire
A two day workshop was convened
at Pune during 6-7th February, 2012
at Bharathi Vidyapeet University in
collaboration with Rajiv Gandhi
Zoological
Park
&
Wildlife
Research Centre and Institute for
Environment Education & Research,
Bhararthi Vidyapeeth University,
Pune. The workshop was funded
by the Central Zoo Authority.
During the workshop the existing
format was reviewed and a revised
format was developed with inputs
from 34 serving and retired zoo
directors, veterinarians, biologists,
scientist, landscape architects
working with Wildlife Institute of
India, Dehradun, Indian Veterinary
Research Institute, Bareilly and
School of Planning & Architecture,
New Delhi and members of the
Central Zoo Authority.
The present questionnaire is
developed such that progress
made by the zoos since the last
renewal of recognition issued by
the Central Zoo Authority can be
measured by measurable indices.
In 2009 ISIS and the Central Zoo
Authority (CZA) of India signed an
MOU to provide ISIS membership to
57 zoos and 4 other organisations
throughout India. Over the course
of the last three years, in fulfillment
of this monumental agreement, ISIS
has worked with CZA to provide
a series of training programmes
on ARKS and SPARKS software.
In continuation a Workshop for
the zoo record keepers on ZIMS
was organised in Chandigarh
from 9th – 13th January, 2012.
Workshop at Pune
Zoo Educators Workshop
Zoo educators workshop was held
in Bhopal from 27th February – 1st
March, 2012 in collaboration with
Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal.
CZA grants renewal of
recognition to Zoos
The CZA in its 60th meeting
of
the
Technical
committee
held
on
14.12.2011
issued
conditional recognition to the
following zoos
1. Assam State Zoo, Guwahti,
(for the period up to 31.12.2015)
2. Sri Chamarajendra Zoological
Gardens, Mysore, Karnataka
(for the period up to 31.12.2015)
3. Bannerghatta Biological Park,
Bangalore, Karnataka (for the
period upto 31.12.2015)
4. Jaipur Zoo, Jaipur, Rajasthan
(for the period up to 31.12.2013)
5. Children’s
Park-cum-Zoo,
Bellary, Karnataka(for the period
up to 31.12.2013)
6 People for Animals Rescue and
Rehabilitation Centre, Bangalore,
Karnataka (for the period up to
31.12.2013)
7. Great Apollo Circus (for the
period up to 31.12.2012)
8. Vulture Conservation Breeding
Centre, Pinjore, Haryana (for the
period up to 31.12.2013)
9. V.J.B. Udyan-Zoo Byculla,
Mumbai, Maharashtra (for the
period up to 31.12.2015)
10.Kamla
Nehru
Zoological
Garden, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
(for the period up to 31.12.2015)
11.I ndroda
Nature
Park,
Gandhinagar, Gujarat (for the
period up to 31.12.2015)
15
CZA approves Layout
Plans in 60th meeeting of
Technical Committee
CZA approved the layout plans for
the following Zoos
1. National Zoological Park, New
Delhi
2. Assam State Zoo, Guwahati,
Assam
3. Jodhpur Zoo, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
4. Safari Park, Haridas Ji Ki Magri,
Udaipur
5. Sepahijala Zoological Park,
Sepahijala, Tripura
CZA encourages
scientific research with
LaCONES, CCMB
The technical committee of the
CZA approved the proposal of
LaCONES, CCMB, Hyderabad to
conduct genetic polymorphism
studies and research on assisted
reproduction for providing financial
assistance ‘in principle’ subject to
clarification on the issues of the
issues of target animals, techniques
and collaborators.
Judiciary concern for
Elephants
As directed by the Trial Court Delhi,
CZA has decided that the amount
of Rs. 50,000/- to be received from
the accused for ivory trade would
be used in the publication of a
handbook on elephant upkeep and
health in Indian zoos.
Studbooks of selected
species project completed
The Wildlife Institute of India
Dehradun, has completed the
task of preparing studbooks for 14
species. These are: Bengal Tiger,
Asiatic Lion, Lion Tailed Macaque,
Indian Rhino, Hoolock Gibbon,
Wild Ass, Gaur, Tibetan wolf, Nilgiri
Langur, Wild Dog, Red Panda,
Snow leoprad, Clouded leopard,
Bhutan grey pheasant
16
Working Manual on Vulture
Breeding
Upcoming training
programmes
CZA appreciated the
working
manual on Conservation Breeding
of Vultures prepared by Dr. Vibhu
Prakash,
In-charge,
Vulture
Conservation Breeding Centre,
Pinjore and desired that the same
be printed for distribution among
the concerned zoos.
The Central Zoo Authority has
decided to organize keepers level
training programmes on a regional
basis at Sepahijala Zoological
Park,
Agartala;
Nandankanan
Zoological Park, Bhubaneswar;
Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park,
Tirupati;
Sakkarbaug
Zoo,
Junagadh and Pt. G. B. Pant High
Altitude Zoo, Nainital.
CZA to have Regional
Centres
For
effective
decentralized
evaluation
to
oversee
the
functioning/development of zoos
four regional centres have been
created at Jaipur, Nagpur, Guwahati
and Hyderabad. Each regional
office is to be headed by a DIG with
support staff. The existing staff in
the CZA will be strengthened by
adding the post of an Evaluation
and Monitoring officer, two posts
of scientific officers, one post of
Evaluation and Monitoring assistant
and one post of Technical assistant.
The post of the Member Secretary
has also been upgraded from CCF
level to Addl PCCF level.
CZA
approved the
revalidation of the
unspent grant of
Rs. 31.83 lakhs for the
year 2011-12 under the
establishment of
Conservation Breeding
Centre for Vulture at
Muta, Ranchi.
CZA
approved Rs. 11.51
lakhs as recurring
expenditure under the
Conservation Breeding
Programme for Hoolock
Gibbon at Biological Park,
Itanagar for the year of
2011-12
CZA approves exchange
of animals between Indian
Zoos and Foreign Zoos
The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan
Zoological Park, Darjeeling will
soon receive one Snow leopard
from Numberg Zoo Germany
Sri Chamarajendra Zoological
Gardens Mysore is soon going to
send four Sloth Bears to Leipzig
Zoo in Germany
The Tata Steel Zoological Park will
soon own three African Lions given
by the National Zoological Gardens
of South Africa Pretoria.
The Royal Zoological Park Scotland
will give three Satyr Tragopans,
and six Temminick
Tragopans
to Padmaja Naidu Himalayan
Zoological Park, Darjeeling.
CZA
approved a grant
of Rs. 89.20 lakhs
for the Conservation
Breeding of the Blyth
Trangopan
Kohima Zoo,
Nagaland
Central Zoo Authority (Governing Body)
Reconstituted (7th time) for a period of three years vide
Gazette Notification No. 2177 dated 18th October 2010
Jayanthi Natarajan
Chairperson
Minister of State (Independent Charge)
(ex-officio)
for Environment & Forests, Govt. of India
Secretary to the Government of India, MoEF
Member Govt. of India
(ex-officio) Director General of Forests & Special Secretary
Member
MoEF, Govt. of India (ex-officio) Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife),
Member
and Director, Wildlife Preservation (ex-officio)
MoEF, Govt. of India
Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor
MoEF, Govt. of India Director, Indian Veterinary Research Institute
Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh Member
(ex-officio) Director,Wildlife Institute of India
Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Member
(ex-officio)
Member
(ex-officio)
S. K. Patnaik Member
Retd. Chief Wildlife Warden
Bhubaneshwar, Odisha
Dr. Erach K. Bharucha, Member
Director, Bharti Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research,
Pune, Maharashtra.
Kartick Satyanarayan,
Wildlife SOS, New Delhi
Member
Dr. Vibhu Prakash,
Bombay Natural History Society.
Member
Member Secretary, Central Zoo authority
New Delhi.
Member
Secretary
Expert Group on Zoo Designing
S. C. Sharma
Retd, Addl. DGF (WL)
New Delhi
Member
S. K. Patnaik
Retd. CWLW (WL), Government of Odisha
Member
R.S. Bhadauria, IFS
Retd. PCCF (Uttar Pradesh)
Member
A. S. Dogra
Retd. PCCF (Punjab)
Member
Kartick Satyanarayan,
Wildlife S.O.S, New Delhi
Member
Prof. (Dr.) Surinder Suneja
School of Planning & Architecture
Member
Member
Dr. Erach K. Bharucha Director, Bharti Vidyapeeth Institute of
Environment Education and Research
Pune, Maharashtra
Member
Kartick Satyanarayan
Wildlife SOS, New Delhi
Member
Prof. (Dr.) Rommel Mehta
School of Planning & Architecture
New Delhi
Member
CCU (Chief Engineer)
MoEF, New Delhi
Member
Dr. Vibhu Prakash
Bombay Natural History Society
Member
Secretary
Dr. Brij Kishor Gupta
Zoo Biologist, Greater Noida
Member
Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority
Himanshu Malhotra
Environmentalist, Wildlife Filmmaker
New Delhi
Member
Administrative Committee of the CZA
Director General of Forests & Special Secretary
MoEF, Govt. of India
Chairperson
Dr. A. K. Malhotra
Former Curator, Delhi Zoo
Member
Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife)
and Director, Wildlife Preservation
MoEF, Govt. Of India
Member
Prof. M. Shaheer
Retd. Professor
School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi
Member
Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor
MoEF, Govt. of India
Member
Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority,
New Delhi
Convenor
Joint Secretary (Admn)
MoEF, Govt. of India
Member
Member Secretary,Central Zoo Authority
New Delhi
Convenor
Technical Committee of the CZA
Expert Group on Conservation Breeding
B.S. Bonal Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority
New Delhi
Member/
Convenor
Director,
Wildlife Institute of India,
Dehradun (Uttarakhand)
Member
Dr. B. R. Sharma
Former Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority
Member
Jagdish Kishwan
Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife)
and Director, Wildlife Preservation
MoEF, Govt. of India
Chairperson
(ex-officio)
Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor
MoEF, Govt. of India Member
(ex-officio)
Dr. Vibhu Prakash
Principal Scientist, Bombay Natural History Society
Member
Director, Indian Veterinary Research Institute
Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh Member
(ex-officio)
Dr. Gautam Narayan
Project Officer, Pigmy Hog Conservation Programme
Member
Director, Wildlife Institute of India
Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Member
(ex-officio) Special Invitee
S. K. Patnaik Member
Retd. Chief Wildlife Warden
Bhubaneshwar, Odisha
Kartick Satyanarayan
Wildlife S.O.S, New Delhi
17
Central Zoo Authority
dsUnzh; fpfM+;k?kj izkf/kdj.k
(Statutory Body under the Ministry of Environment and Forests)
Bikaner House, Annexe VI, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110011, India
Phone: 011-23381585, 23073072, 23070375, Fax: 91-11-23386012
email: [email protected], website: www.cza.nic.in
Map not to scale
The status of zoos as on 31st January 2012
Designed and printed by SKM Wildlife Conservation Foundation for Central Zoo Authority
C-50 Defence Colony, New Delhi-110024, Tel: 2433000, 9811184099, email: [email protected]
Working team: Punkaj Malhotra, Tapan Ghosh, Sukriti Sobti (Design)
18