Central Zoo Authority information and extracts from their website

Indian Zoos

 

The zoos of India come under Central Zoo Authority (CZA)  – A Statutory Body under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. Of India.

 

Interestingly , the Zoos are under the Central Authority, but the Wild life parks, and Sanctuaries etc.  are under State Governments.

 

All the relevant information is to be had at Central Zoo Authority’s web page.

 

 

CZA             http://www.cza.nic.in/index.html

 

It has a comprehensive site

 

 

It has links to

 

1. Information about CZA – The history and hierarchy of the organization,

Wild life Protection Act  1972

National Zoo Policy

Recognition of Zoos Rules 2001

Various other related  subjects.

 

2. Zoos – There is an interactive map of India to view the location of the zoos.

http://www.cza.nic.in/zoo/index.html

When you click on the map anywhere  you get to that region. There is a link at the bottom of the map to view the zoos of that location.

It gives you the Name, Location and Current Status of the zoos (Closed, proposed, recognized etc

 

3. Animals -, you get the information about Complete inventory of animals , who is located where, whether single, unpaired or surplus.

 

4. There is a page of other useful International and local links. Interestingly only the Mysore and Tirupati zoos seem to have an official Website.

 

Mysore is not available even after repeated attempts.

 

Official website of Mysore Zoo-             www.mysorezoo.in

Official Website of Tirupati Zoo             www.svzoo.org

 

5. There are links for NEWS and Bulletin Board, But on 13 Nov. 2006 they were both blank. There is a chat link also.

 

6. There is a member’s area , but I have not been able to find out exactly how to become a member, who can be one, the prerogatives ,the fee if any etc.

  

 

From their site I am borrowing the following information :

(The Parentheses are mine ) – 

 

What is  CZA

( Small Introduction from the site , details available on site. )

 

In India, functioning of zoos is regulated by an autonomous statutory body called Central Zoo Authority which has been constituted under the Wild Life (Protection) Act.  The Authority consists of a Chairman, ten members and a Member Secretary. The main objective of the authority is to complement the national effort in conservation of wild life. Standards and norms for housing, upkeep, health care and overall management of animals in zoos has been laid down under the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992.   Every zoo in the country is required to obtain recognition from the Authority for its operation. 

 

Since its inception in 1992, the Authority has evaluated 347 zoos, out of which 164 have been recognized and 183 refused recognition.   Out of 183 zoos refused recognition, 92 have been closed down and their animals relocated suitably. Cases of the remaining 91 derecognized zoos are currently under review. The Authority’s role is more of a facilitator than a regulator.  

 

Only such captive facilities which have neither the managerial skills nor the requisite resources are asked to close down.

 

Some of the major initiatives  undertaken by the Authority since its inception include Establishment of Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species at Hyderabad for carrying out research in biotechnology, planned breeding of Red Panda and its restocking into the wild, upgradation of diagnostic facilities for disease diagnosis at selected veterinary institutions and their networking with zoos on regional basis for better health care of animals

 

What is a Zoo ?

 

“Zoo” means an establishment, whether stationary or mobile, where captive animals are kept for exhibition to the public and includes a circus and rescue centers but does not include an establishment of a licensed dealer in captive animals. (Interesting definition !? )

 

History of Zoos

 

Since time immemorial, animals have been kept by people for work, warfare, food and entertainment. Emperors and kings maintained collections of wild animals in their palaces as a status symbol and for their amusement. It was in 1959 that the first animal collection came to be build as a zoo in Schonbrum near Vienna. (  These private collections were known as menageries).

Zoos around the world started in many different ways. Most of the early zoos started as private collections. Their popularity among the public eventually opened them to visitors. Most large zoos started a private collections. Their popularity among the public eventually them to visitors. Most large zoos were founded by either private societies or by municipalities.

 

In India:

Ancient Hindu literature is full of references to wild animals and many a Hindu god has an animal vahana. It is said that Gautama Buddha gave his first Discourse in a deer park. Ashrams of Rishis had deer and birds of various kinds. Deer parks were commonly maintained in ashrams. Private menageries and shikarkhanas were kept by emperors, maharajas, nawabs and the British.

 

The first zoo was probably the one started by Raja Rajendra Mallick in his private mansion in 1854. It is popularly known as the Marble palace Zoo and is still in existence in Calcutta. Raja Mallick was also one of the persons responsible for establishing the Alipore Zoological Garden. Different kinds of birds and animals were brought for display here and were visited by several people from near and far away places.

 

Madras Zoo founded in 1855 can probably claim to being India’s first zoo to begin as a result of a visitor pressure.

Col. Edward Balfour of the Government Central Museum, Madras had a young cheetah and a young tiger in the museum for a few months in 1854. He noted that there was a tremendous increase in the number of visitors. When the animals were removed, the figures fell alarmingly. He noted down the fluctuation in numbers, and prompted by this visitor information, the Madras Zoo was started. The zoo was closed down in 1980 and shifted to a new area. The new Zoological Park, known as the Arignar Anna Zoological Park is at Vandalur, near Chennai (Madras) and is based on modern concepts of zoo design. In 1955, the first All India meeting , the topics of discussion included education, conservation and setting up of insect zoos. At that time, zoos were administered under the India Board for Wildlife.

 

The Venkateswara Zoological Park in Tirupati, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Vishakhapatnam, the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad, National Zoological Park in Hyderabad, National Zoological Park in New Delhi, Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur, Chennai and Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Park in Mysore are some of the innovative zoos that have come up in the last three decades.

 

The Following Information is from the CZA FAQ page:

 

Classification of zoos

 

For the purposes of deciding standards and norms for recognition of zoos and monitoring and evaluating their performance, the zoos, on the basis number of animals, species, endangered species and number of animals of endangered species exhibited, shall be classified into four categories as specified below

 

 

How Many endangered species are being displayed by Zoos ?

 

 

What is the number of animals displayed by Indian Zoos ?

 

 

What is the ownership pattern of zoos in the country ?

 

 

How do Animals come to a Zoo ?

 

Almost all new animals coming to zoos are acquired from other zoos through captive breeding programmers. Animals from the wild are acquired only as rescued ones, or for planned breeding programmers. Some birds like budgerigars, munias and pigeons may be brought from animal dealers.

 

Wild animals are today coming into conflict with humans as a result of disturbances and loss of habitat. Animals which are victims of such conflict are rescued, and brought to zoo. Some animals, for example, tamed elephants and macaques, create havoc when they get beyond the control of their master. People and property and harmed by these animals. Zoos are called to help. The animals which are caught are brought to zoos for treatment and keeping.

 

Zoos exchange their surplus animals with other zoos. Permission and clearances from the concerned authority have to be taken for this.

 

Other Interesting Facts

 

• There are 163 recognized zoo in Country, 93 zoo were closed down and  91were refused permission to open. (It does not mentions any dates. )

 

• The Marble Palace Zoo in Calcutta city which was established in the year 1854 is the oldest existing zoo in the country.

 

• Sri Venkateshwara Zoological Park located in Tirupati city in Andhra Pradesh is the largest zoo in the country. The Area of the zoo is 2212 hectares.

 

 

 

National Zoo Policy

 

http://www.cza.nic.in/index1.html

 

The policy is divided into 3 parts, Preamble,  Objective and Strategy to achieve the objectives. It is a comprehensive document. You can read the whole document  at the above site, here I am giving a few  facts.

 

Preamble

 

1.3 The need for making conservation as one of the main objectives of management of zoos was realized by Government of India soon after independence and the Indian Board of Wildlife made important recommendations in this regard. The Government set up an Expert Committee on Management of Zoos in Noverber,1972 and its recommendations were accepted in June,1973. The recommendations are relevant even now for improving the management of Zoos. The National Wildlife Action Plan of 1983 again emphasized the role of ex-situ conservation in national conservation efforts. However, because of varied ownership patterns and divergent nature of animal collections not much was achieved.

1.7 The amendment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, in 1991, provided for the enforcement of mandatory standards and norms for management of zoos through the Central Zoo Authority. However, it is realized that the objectives of the Act can be achieved only through co-operation and participation of various government agencies, non-governmental organizations and people at large

 

Objective

2.1 The aim and objective of the zoos shall be to complement and strengthen the national efforts in conservation and strengthen the national efforts in conservation of the rich biodiversity of the country, particularly the fauna.

 

Strategy for Achieving the Objectives

 

3.1.1        Since zoos require a significant amount of resources in the form of land, water, energy and money, no new zoo shall be set up unless a sustained supply of resources including finance and technical support are guaranteed.

 

3.1.2        Zoos shall prepare a long-term master plan for development to ensure optimum utilization of the land, water, energy and finance

 

3.1.3        Every Zoo shall maintain a healthy, hygienic and natural environment in the zoo, so that the visitors get an adequate opportunity to experience a natural environment.

 

Animal Housing

 

3.3.1        Every animal in a zoo shall be provided housing, upkeep and health care that can ensure a quality of life and longevity to enable the zoo population sustain itself through procreation

3.3.2        The enclosure for all the species displayed or kept in a zoo shall be of such size that all animals get adequate space for free movement and exercise and no animal is unduly dominated or harassed by any other animal.

3.3.3        Each animal enclosure in a zoo shall have appropriate shelters, perches, withdrawal areas, wallow, pools drinking water points and such other facilities which can provide the animals a chance to display the wide range of their natural behavior as well as protect them from extremes of climate

 

 

 

 

 Another linked organization

 

When we think of a governing body for the zoos, you would think it would be the Zoological Survey of India . It is NOT so.  It is a body for research- mostly in taxonomy – the science of classifying living organisms and deals with museum exhibits. It is animal related but a completely different organization.

 

The Zoological Survey of India

 

http://envfor.nic.in/zsi/

 

(From the site)

 

Brief  History

 

The Zoological Survey of India was established on 1st July, 1916 to promote survey, exploration and research leading to the advancement in our knowledge of the various aspects of the exceptionally rich animal life of the erstwhile `British Indian Empire’. The Survey had its genesis in the establishment of the Zoological Section of the Indian Museum at Calcutta in 1875.

 

Initially the Survey acquired the zoological collections of more than a century old from the former museum (1814-1875) of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and the Zoological Section of the Indian Museum (1875-1916) in Calcutta.

 

With the increasing interest in life sciences and with the advent of the country’s Five-Year Plans, the expansion programme of the Survey was initiated. The Survey has so far established sixteen Regional and Field Stations, and has developed into a major National Institution. It functions as the guardian of the National Zoological Collections, containing over a million identified specimens from all animal groups- Protozoa to Mammals.

 

Extensive and intensive field explorations are undertaken by the Survey in different parts of the country for the studies of faunistics, systematic zoology, animal ecology, wild-life, zoogeography, animal behavior, animal population and also marine fauna.

 

OBJECTIVES

1. Primary Objectives
   1. Exploration and Survey of Faunal Resources;
   2. Taxonomic Studies;
   3. Status Survey of Endangered Species;
   4. Publication of Results through Departmental Journals;
   5. Publication of Fauna of India;
   6. Maintenance and Development of National Zoological Collections; and
   7. Central Referral, Information, Advisory and Library Services.
2. Secondary Objectives
   1. Maintenance of Museums at Headquarters and Regional Stations; and
   2. Environmental Impact Studies wherever specially asked for by the Ministry of Environment & Forests.

 

 

Next areas of search

·        A search on game parks and sanctuaries both National and International.

·        Career options and education sources in animal related areas.  

·        Animal specific research institutions

 

 

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From – Shobha Mathur

Email- mailto:mshobham@yahoo.com