Master Planning of Zoos - Central Zoo Authority

occurred in the western world during the same
period. The Jersey Zoo in the Channel Islands, by
Gerald Durrell, was open to visitors in 1959 and
four years later the Jersey Wildlife Preservation
Trust (now the Durrell Wildlife Conservation
Trust) was established. Jersey Zoo was the first of
its kind; its aims were for the animal collection to
represent species on the brink of extinction, with
captive breeding programmes linked directly to
efforts to save dwindling wild populations. This
led to setting up of standards for good zoos all
over the world, with many zoos today contributing
to research, education and species conservation
programmes.
Modernization of the Indian zoos gained
momentum after the establishment of the Central
Zoo Authority in 1992. Standards and guidelines
have now been prescribed to be followed by the
zoos in the country. The National Zoo Policy was
adopted by the Government of India in 1998, so
that the very objective of operating zoos in the
country is properly projected before our society.
Today, therefore the role of the Indian zoos has
changed from entertainment and amusement to the
conservation of endangered animal species, and
in the education of the public in conservation and
environmental issues.
If the animals in a zoo do not get the basic
requirement of space for their movement and
exercise and are deprived of hygienic conditions,
the zoo cannot be termed as a modern zoo. The
living animals have to be treated on a different
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footing than routine construction and development
programmes. The zoos have to pass on to its
visitors a sense of awareness and compassion
relating to animals. The very establishment of zoos
now is associated with the idea to protect near
extinct animals and to educate people especially
children in this regard. There are also some
underlying factors which have led the zoos in a
dilemma. Massive improvements in animal
management techniques and enclosure design, as
well as an ever increasing knowledge of individual
species requirements, have led to highly successful
breeding rates in most zoos. These high rates have
led to a problem of surplus animals, animals that
have either passed their reproductive fitness,
already contributed the necessary genes to the
breeding programme or whose genes are not
required to maintain genetic diversity. Suggestions
for doing away with this surplus animals range
from establishing “retirement homes” where they
can be housed for the remainder of their lives to
euthanasia, an unpopular choice particularly with
the public. These issues would have to be properly
taken care, while preparing a master plan of a zoo.
I hope the present training programme being
organised by the Central Zoo Authority will be
able to provide the required orientation to all the
participants, so that the Indian zoos will be able to
promote effective stewardship of the natural world
by bringing people close to living animals,
applying and advancing conservation, science and
education, and setting standards and excellence in
animal welfare and the environmental
responsibility.