Do zoos need guides, educators, specific activities, literature?

New Delhi: They draw almost 5% of Indians every year, second perhaps only to Bollywood or cricket. Yet, nobody at the Centre knows exactly what is going on in Indian zoos.
There are no standards on animal diets, health care, even design to house the over 28,000 animals, birds and reptiles in the 58 big zoos. Or, the uncounted thousands in the 101 small or mini zoos which basically play host to a couple of species. The Centre certainly has no idea how much money the zoos bring in. Nobody parts with the information, plead officials.
The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) is now trying to rope in institutes such as the School of Planning, the National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology and Indian Veterinary Research Institute, among others, to fill in the gaps for countrywide manuals which can show a way forward. It’s work which would take any institute between two to five years to complete.
Some of these institutes were reportedly reluctant to step into virgin territory. Nobody has really worked on zoos, which draw crores of people across the country each year. “Very few have exclusive zoo experience,’’ said CZA’s B R Sharma. But CZA wants to take a closer look at methods of care, feeding, enclosures and even the activities aimed at drawing in or educating the general public. There has never been a scientific study of dietary requirements compared to what is being given or the possible effects on health and longevity of animals, admitted Sharma. Some may feed an animal eight kg a day, some may give 10 kg, some may give meat with bone, some without the bone, some may give melons, some may not. At some places, tigers and lions are obese.
Healthcare is a big question mark. Zoo animals suffer from specific diseases, with causes ranging from the way animals are kept to the climate. There has never been any study, said Sharma. “Perhaps if we compile this information, we may find the problems are common or that we can do something.’’
Similarly, there is no manual detailing the standards for architectural engineering and landscape designs. What kind of enclosure should an animal have? How high should a barrier be? A 7-ft fence may do for a chinkara, but some build it to 11 ft. It’s obviously more expensive. No mean amount when the cost of just one enclosure can run into lakhs.
Nor is there any pattern to the way zoos organise their educational activities or decide what signs to put at enclosures. They have never studied visitor profile or found out what they want. Do zoos need guides, educators, specific activities, literature? Sharma is now searching for a national zoo education master plan.