Master Planning of Zoos - Central Zoo Authority

Proceedings of
Training Programme
Master Planning
of Zoos
Integrating ex-situ conservation with in-situ
conservation in planning a Zoo
• We can already predict that 21 st Century conservation efforts will preserve
habitats in varying degree of fragmentation and wildlife conservationists will
need to be creative with broken systems.
• Species survival will emerge as a clearly separate agenda from habitat
preservation, a global experiment in biospheric rescue where the lines between
nature and captivity will be blurred.
• The main objectives of the zoos under the National Zoo Policy is to complement
and strengthen the national efforts in conservation of rich biodiversity of the
country, particularly the wild fauna.
• This objective can be achieved by conservation breeding under ex-situ conditions
for rehabilitating them in the wild as and when it is appropriate and desirable.
• Conservation education and research for conservation of wildlife are other
objectives of zoos enshrined in the National Zoo Policy.
• The National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-16) emphasizes on the role of zoos
for ex-situ breeding of endangered species of wild fauna and their rehabilitation
as per the IUCN guidelines for reintroduction.
Role of Central Zoo Authority
• Central Zoo Authority has constituted a Sub-Committee on Conservation
Breeding with specified terms of reference to suggest and recommend the
modalities for conservation breeding of endangered species in Indian zoos.
• The Central Zoo Authority has decided to provide financial assistance on 100%
basis for creation of appropriate infrastructure for the identified species of wild
animals in the zoos or as a satellite facility for conservation breeding programme.
Strategy
• The conservation breeding programme in India is a joint venture of in-situ and
ex-situ wildlife managers. This is need based programme. The Chief Wild
Life Wardens and Protected Area Managers have been requested to identify the
species which need immediate interventions in the form of ex-situ conservation
breeding for the protected areas under their control.
• One component of the programme is identification of the protected area having
wild population of the proposed species / re-introduction site in the vicinity of
the conservation breeding facility. The in-situ managers of the protected areas
will be taking corrective measures to address the cause of decline/ extinction of
wild population of the targetted species in its natural habitats.
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