Master Planning of Zoos - Central Zoo Authority

Photo: Brij Kishor Gupta
Presidential Address
by Shri R.P.S. Katwal
Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife)
Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India
I am extremely happy to be associated with
such an important event, the training programme
on Master Planning of Zoos.
There may be many definitions to the word “Zoo”
or “Zoological Garden”, but there are two
characteristics that all such institutions have in
common. First, they possess and manage a
collection consisting primarily of wild (nondomesticated)
animals; and secondly, this
collection is on display to the public for almost
throughout the year.
Indian mythology, history and literature are replete
with accounts of animals kept by kings and nobles
for work, warfare, hunt and entertainment. During
the Gupta period (320 B.C- 476 A.D), also called
the Golden period of Indian history, the Emperors
maintained “ Game Parks” and enacted laws
concerning conservation, health and welfare of
captive animals. “Buddha Jatakas” have numerous
references about taming elephants by Lord
Buddha. Scriptures also record the existence of a
Deer Park where Buddha gave his first discourse.
During the period of Great Mughals, emperor
Jahangir maintained a collection of animals and
birds and had commissioned Mansoor, a painter,
to prepare a folio of paintings of birds and animals.
Jahangir described 69 species of animals and 68
species of plants. Travellers to India during that
period have described about animals, which were
kept for the purpose of warfare, parades and sport.
The history of public zoos in India, however, is
about 200 years old. During the British colonial
period, the first zoo was set up in 1800 A.D by
the then Governor General Lord Wellesley at
Barrackpore, a suburb of Kolkata, on the banks of
Hoogly River. The zoo had in its collection a
variety of mammals, birds and also reptiles.
Originally, set up as part of the Indian Natural
History, the zoo is known to have existed for
almost three quarters of the 19th century until Lord
Lytton handed over the surviving animals to
Calcutta Zoo in Alipore during 1876-1878.
In India, the zoo movement received an impetus
after independence. In 1952, the then Indian Board
for Wildlife (now re-designated as the National
Board for Wildlife) recommended for setting up
of a modern zoo at Delhi. The main features
conceived were large enclosures with nature
immersing exhibits without visible barriers. The
Zoo was opened to public in the year 1959.
Simultaneously, a huge influence in the role change
and animal management techniques of zoos also
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