Civic bodys Rs 150-crore zoo revamp plan fails to convince wildlife activists….Aakriti Vasudeva
Despite the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)s Rs 150-crore revamp plan to bring Byculla Zoo up to international standards by 2014, animal lovers in the city believe untrained staff and security issues will continue to pose a problem to the animals wellbeing.
The BMCs revamp project aims at constructing a world-class, theme-based city zoo by bringing new species of animals, including some exotic ones, modelling enclosures on the animals natural habitat and building various facilities such as an interpretation centre and public amenities.
However, a city-based NGO Plant and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS), which conducted an inspection of the city zoo on October 29, alleged that the animals are being kept in pathetic conditions and does not see how the situation will improve post the revamp.
We found that most animal enclosures did not have food or water. Visitors, especially children, were teasing and disturbing resting animal by throwing stones, said Sunish Subramanian, Founder and Secretary, PAWS, adding that it was not the first time that they had found such conditions at the zoo. We conducted inspection in 2006 and 2009 as well and the situation has been badeach time, he added.
The team also found that many enclosures were empty and the rest were small and had no natural habitat. Many animals looked depressed as they were alone in their enclosures while others were being harrassed by crows and pigeons picking on their injuries. Plastic waste was strewn around, even inside the enclosures.
We have been waiting for the zoo revamp to happen for years but it still has not taken off. If and when the revamp does happen, what is the guarantee that the conditions will improve? The unqualified and untrained staff will remain and the animals will still suffer, said Subramanian.
The Byculla Zoo has had various problems over the years with mismanagement issues, not being able to find mates for their animals and many animals dying prematurely like the sole male lion Amar who died at age eight and the hippopotamus Shakti who died due to kidney failure. Infact, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had even filed a PIL in 2004 against the unsuitable conditions of the zoo.
However, Subramanian says nothing has come of it. People still tease the animals and there are no caretakers near the enclosures. Security system is poor and injured and sick animals are still kept on display, he said. The NGO has written to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) several times on the issue but has received no response.
The zoo officials denied all allegations saying the animals were well-fed, given enough water and taken care of by the two zoo vets. Also, the issue of enclosures has been dealt with in the new master plan which is awaiting for CZAs approval. With regard to visitors, they are sensitized at the entrance not to litter or ill-treat animals. We have enough security in place but stray incidents happen, said a senior zoo official.