Master Planning of Zoos - Central Zoo Authority

Technical Session III
l Cold storage facilities to store perishable food items like beef, fruits, vegetables
etc. To overcome difficulties in case of unforeseen disturbances in the locality
such as transport strike, general strike, staff strike etc.
l Hygienic transportation of food items in sealed cover from the food distribution
center to the animal enclosures in the quickest possible time must be ensured.
l Food storage, preparation of food centre, kitchen etc. facilities should be located
in such a place of the zoo so as to ensure frequent inspection of all the food
items and easy supply from outside into the zoo premises.
Sanitation and Hygiene
l Infectious agents remain in highly dormant form in nature and in highly
concentrated form in zoos because of confinement.
l Accumulation of solid and liquid wastes, decaying vegetation etc. inside zoo
premises can act as reservoir and breeding ground for the disease causing
microbes and vectors.
l Excreta and food refuses of animals and all sorts of solid and liquid wastes
have to be cleaned daily and quickly disposed off at appropriate places followed
by disinfections.
l General sanitation and hygiene of animal enclosures and surrounding areas
and visitors’ utility places must be ensured.
l Disinfectants should be selected on the basis of effectiveness and safety.
l Attempts should be directed to reduce or eliminate stress to minimize stress
related morbidity and mortality in zoos.
l Losses or traumatic injuries resulting from infighting during mating related
activities, feeding, capture/shifting operations, incompatibility etc. can be
prevented/reduced by keeping compatible pairs/groups and well managed
capture operations.
l Neonatal deaths can be controlled by identification of causes. (e.g. Inbreeding,
disturbance during advanced stage of pregnancy and nursing period, stress,
infection, etc) and adopting remedial measures.
l Losses due to cannibalism in young ones can be prevented by separating the
pregnant / nursing mothers specially in carnivores.
l Majority of deaths in zoos are noticed within a month of their arrival/birth.
Therefore, special care during this period is of utmost importance.
l Predators like snakes, civet cats, jungle cats, mongooses, foxes, rats, feral
dogs and cats, monkeys are responsible for deaths of small mammals and
birds. Further, they deprive the zoo animals from their full quota of diet.
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