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

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