Ex-Situ updates (March 2012) - Ministry of Environment and Forests

Jayanthi Natarajan 

MESSAGE 

Minister of State (I/C) 

Ministry of Environment and Forests 

Government of India 

Chairperson 

Central Zoo Authority 

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

2 

FROM THE DESK OF 

MEMBER SECRETARY 

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. 

B. S. BONAL 

Policy, Rules and Guidelines 

of Central Zoo Authority 

1. National Zoo Policy, 1998 

2. Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009 

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 

6. Guidelines on minimum 

dimension of enclosures for 

housing exotic animals of 

different species in India.

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. 

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

The table given below will make the situation amply clear: 

6 

Year of 

Establishment 

Number of Zoos (Area Category wise in ha ) 

≥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 

1991 to 1993 13 22 4 134 175 

Total 27 37 38 34 294 440 

*Besides there were 23 mobile zoos also 

Identification of zoos which 

had the potential to develop 

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. 

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 

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 

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. 

Hornbill at Sepahijala Zoo 

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 

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 

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 

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

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. 

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 


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

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 

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 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. 

Workshop at Pune 

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. 

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 


3. Bannerghatta Biological Park, 

Bangalore, Karnataka (for the 

period upto 31.12.2015) 

4. Jaipur Zoo, Jaipur, Rajasthan 


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 


10. Kamla Nehru Zoological 

Garden, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 


11. Indroda Nature Park, 

Gandhinagar, Gujarat (for the 


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. 

16 

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 

Working Manual on Vulture 

Breeding 

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. 

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 

Upcoming training 

programmes 

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 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 Member 


Director, Indian Veterinary Research Institute Member 

Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh (ex-officio) 

Director,Wildlife Institute of India Member 

Dehradun, Uttarakhand (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 Member 

Wildlife SOS, New Delhi 

Dr. Vibhu Prakash Member 

Bombay Natural History Society 

Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority Member 

Secretary 

Administrative Committee of the CZA 

Director General of Forests & Special Secretary Chairperson 


Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife) Member 

and Director, Wildlife Preservation 

MoEF, Govt. Of India 



Joint Secretary (Admn) Member 


Member Secretary,Central Zoo Authority Convenor 

New Delhi 

Technical Committee of the CZA 

Jagdish Kishwan Chairperson 

Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife) (ex-officio) 

and Director, Wildlife Preservation 




Director, Indian Veterinary Research Institute Member 

Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh (ex-officio) 

Director, Wildlife Institute of India Member 

Dehradun, Uttarakhand (ex-officio) 


Retd. Chief Wildlife Warden 

Bhubaneshwar, Odisha 

Dr. Erach K. Bharucha, Member 

Director, Bharti Vidyapeeth Institute of 

Environment Education and Research, 

Pune, Maharashtra. 

Kartick Satyanarayan, Member 

Wildlife SOS, New Delhi 

Dr. Vibhu Prakash, Member 

Bombay Natural History Society. 

Member Secretary, Central Zoo authority Member 

New Delhi. Secretary 

Expert Group on Zoo Designing 

S. C. Sharma Member 

Retd, Addl. DGF (WL) 

New Delhi 


Retd. CWLW (WL), Government of Odisha 

R.S. Bhadauria, IFS Member 

Retd. PCCF (Uttar Pradesh) 

A. S. Dogra Member 

Retd. PCCF (Punjab) 

Kartick Satyanarayan, Member 

Wildlife S.O.S, New Delhi 

Prof. (Dr.) Surinder Suneja Member 

School of Planning & Architecture 

Prof. (Dr.) Rommel Mehta Member 

School of Planning & Architecture 

New Delhi 

CCU (Chief Engineer) Member 

MoEF, New Delhi 

Dr. Brij Kishor Gupta Member 

Zoo Biologist, Greater Noida 

Himanshu Malhotra Member 

Environmentalist, Wildlife Filmmaker 

New Delhi 

Dr. A. K. Malhotra Member 

Former Curator, Delhi Zoo 

Prof. M. Shaheer Member 

Retd. Professor 

School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi 

Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority, Convenor 

New Delhi 

Expert Group on Conservation Breeding 

B.S. Bonal Member/ 

Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority Convenor 

New Delhi 

Director, Member 

Wildlife Institute of India, 

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) 

Dr. B. R. Sharma Member 

Former Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority 

Dr. Vibhu Prakash Member 

Principal Scientist, Bombay Natural History Society 

Dr. Gautam Narayan Member 

Project Officer, Pigmy Hog Conservation Programme 

Special Invitee 

Kartick Satyanarayan 

Wildlife S.O.S, New Delhi 

17

18 

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: cza@nic.in, 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: skmwildlife@gmail.com 

Working team: Punkaj Malhotra, Tapan Ghosh, Sukriti Sobti (Design)

Ex-Situ updates (March 2012) - Ministry of Environment and Forests

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