Ex-Situ updates - Central Zoo Authority

Himalayan Black Bear was seen in a
number of zoos in different regions and
was recorded breeding. It appears to
be highly adaptable as it was observed
breeding in tropical areas although the
species is found in the wild in temperate
regions. All four species were recorded
breeding, but the breeding success
is low with the Malayan Sun Bear
(Helarctos malayanus), which is being
kept only in two zoos. This species
has a very restricted distribution in the
country and is found only in North-east
India
The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) is
a statutary body of the Ministry of
Environment & Forests, Government
of India. It was established in 1992
to oversee the functioning of zoos in
India and provide technical assistance.
There are 70 zoos and 5 rescue
centres housing a total of 795 bears
(as of 31st March, 2012) in captivity for
the purpose of conservation, education
to the public and for their lifetime care.
STEPS TAKEN AND FUTURE
PLANS
1. Ensuring improvement of animal
housing, Display of animals and
animal enclosures as per the
prescribed norms.
Most of the bear enclosures in Indian
zoos were built during the period when
the Central Zoo Authority was not in
existence, and hence the zoos did
not follow the same pattern. Being the
nodal agency for preparing norms for
better upkeep and veterinary care in
zoos and for regulating the functioning
of zoos, the CZA has reformulated its
rules and norms, and zoos are being
asked to adhere to them strictly. Now
no zoo can build any new enclosures
for bear species too without obtaining
the prior approval of the Central Zoo
Authority. There would be preference
for zoos if bear species are exchanged
for the purpose of scientific breeding
and to infuse new blood in the existing
population.
2. Ensuring upkeep and healthcare
of animals
Although the CZA has reformulated its
rules and guidelines for better upkeep
and veterinary care of animals and
circulated these to zoos for guidance
and implementation, it also signed
a memorandum of understanding
with the Indian Veterinary Research
Institute (IVRI), Bareilly, on 20 August
2007 identifying National Referral
Centre to provide specialised services
and facilities of the IVRI to recognised
zoos/rescue centres of the country
pertaining to diagnosis and therapeutic
measures for infectious and noninfectious
diseases and healthcare of
wild animals as and when required by
the recognized zoos/rescue centres
and the Central Zoo Authority.
3. Ensuring maintenance of records,
studbooks, and preparation of
inventory
For better record keeping and breeding,
the CZA has signed a memorandum
of understanding with International
Species Information System (ISIS)
for providing its services to zoos. The
Central Zoo Authority has assigned to
Wildlife SOS for five years (beginning
on 31 March 2011) the responsibility
of preparing and updating studbooks
of all four bear species found in Indian
zoos for the purpose of conservation
breeding . Wildlife SOS will be
publishing interpretative studbooks
of all the species annually and will
provide hard copies to each zoo where
bears are housed.
4. Ensuring Conservation Research
The Central Zoo Authority is
encouraging zoos to conduct research
and studies on the behaviour and
husbandry of animals so that zoos
can have better guidelines for the
upkeep and breeding of animals.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological
Park, Darjeeling, was granted financial
assistance to conduct a study on “the
behaviour ecology of Asiatic Black
Bear in captivity for the purpose of
conservation breeding”.
In November 2011, the Central Zoo
Authority assigned Wildlife SOS to
undertake a two year study of the
enclosure utilisation pattern of Sloth
Bears and the enrichment utilisation in
non-conventional captivity at the Agra
Bear Rescue Facility.
The Central Zoo Authority assigned a
five year study to Wildlife Institute of
India, Dehradun, on 21 July 2009 with
the following objectives:
(i) Conducting a study on the aforesaid
species at the zoos selected as
coordinating, participating for the
species and other major zoos
holding animals in captivity.
(ii) Conducting literature survey for
selected species pertaining to their
housing and enclosure enrichment.
The relevant literature must be
compiled, and hard copies should
be made available to the CZA for
distribution to zoos.
(iii) Evaluation of the available housing
and enrichment practices for the
aforesaid species in India and
abroad for their effectiveness
and ensuring that the suggested
enrichment does not endanger the
lives of animals.
(iv) Preparation of a critical note for
each species, providing detailed
notes on appropriate housing
(including the desired dimensions),
habits and behaviour (including
social, feeding, reproductive and
other requirements in the wild and
how the same should be met in
captivity by suggesting appropriate
methods including species of
plant, tree, and shrub required
to be planted by zoos, details
of enrichment artefacts, water
bodies, substrates, wooden logs
and other off-exhibit (for feeding
and retiring cells), keeping in view
the physiological, psychological
and behavioural requirements and
welfare of the animals.
Brown Bear at Kufri Zoo
3
Photo Credit: Dr Brij Kishor Gupta