Compilation of responses received by Karmayog to
the Inspection Report on Mumbai Zoo prepared by PAWS
1.
I appreciate the efforts taken to study the condition of these dumb animals and birds.
NP Bharathan
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2.
I received a mail informing me about the conditions at the Byculla Zoo, and i was horrified after what I read. Every living creature has a right to live. I think Wildlife Protection and it’s Importance should be introduced in Schools. ( Each and every school here in Mumbai) so as to educate everyone about the same. A large number of
citizens aware of the conditions in Zoo’s and why animals need to be protected and cared for, will only raise a cry for changing the current situation and giving animals a safe and loving environment….
Krystal.
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3.
Never seen a zoo like this in our life . If BMC wants can really beautify this and make a tourist place and a place for kids … but who cares attitude .. has always been there .
They must learn form
Malhotra, mumbai
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4.
Please make this information public. it is reallly sad that there are so many children seeing this, and growing up thinking animals are dirty, smelly creatures. this is part of the reason people dislike animals.
Please also investigate the funds available for the zoo, the sources and utilisation.
you guys are doing a great job. your emails are real eye-openers. may you continue doing good work and get the desired results/changes.
Nita
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5.
We must close down this den of cruelty which goes by the name of Zoo as soon as possible. Let us work towards this in a organized manner under the leadership of PAWS.
Dr. Vispi Jokhi
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6.
It is Pathetic! Is there any civic aspect where we are not cheating ourselves.
This matter should be taken up with Menika Gandhi who has used this theme to acquire her position and with the Ministry.
Maj gen chauhan
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7.
I read the article on the Zoo. It is really a sad situation where we have innumerable human resource and also NGOâs who want to work for a cause and still the animals in our country have to survive in a condition like this. As per me this is due to mere negligence of the governing body responsible in this area. Why canât we have trained people on the jobs in zoo? Why canât we have a body responsible to deal with natureâs creations like this? What we really need is streamlining the process with proper planning and supervision. The caretakers in the zoo rule the zoo because they are well aware of the fact that they are not answerable to anyone. And then there are visitors who come there who are also there for amusement and nothing else. They just need to purchase a ticket and they are left wondering to do what they like. Why canât there be a group of guides who can show them around and educate them and restrict them from misbehaving, I am sure no one comes in with an intention to harm. I think we should have a department with trained experts and responsible authorities to monitor and I am sure the situation can be much better.
Kajal Pandya
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8.
In this case, the animals at the zoo are being extremely inadequately cared for. I found this inspection to be very interesting, but I am left wondering what can be done to change the practices at the zoo?
Lindsey
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9.
The zoo should be handed over to a private operator or a foreign zoo to be invited to run the same.
-The entry fee should be upgraded a number of times.
-All round security spruced up.
-No of trees to be planted.
-Animal teasers should be strictly punished and tried in special court.
Persons working at present should all be sacked and new personal to be selected on very strict criterion of love respect knowledge etc etc of animals by a very competent team and also exams to be conducted for various posts with personal interviews. Salaries should be excellent by efficiency and work must be taken out.
Have visited no of zoos all over the world and was spell bound by the zoos and especially the commitment of the people working there.
Naozer baldawala
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10.
Good to know that finally someone is interested in the umbai zoo and development of the same.
This pathetic condition of the zoo is not new to anyone, I have seen these bad conditions for over 35 years.
To see any development, first and foremeost you have to wipe out the corruption amongst those involved within the zoo and the BMC. Until and unless corruption is not dealt with, whatever efforts any NGO does to help and improve the zoo will not help.
There are corruption at all levels in the BMC, which the whole city of
How can you expect improvement when money for the food meant for the animals is pocketed by the corrupt officials.
The BMC is a very rich organisation but unfortunately because of the high level of corruption, even though 65 percent to 70 percent of the revenue collected is used for salaries, the BMC workers, staff and officials are greedy just like monkeys.
First and foremost all NGO’s working on the zoo improvement project should come together and file public litigation cases against the corrupt officials of the BMC before any improvement can be seen. Get the Anti Corruption Bureau involved before beginning improvement.
Navin
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11.
Pathetic! Why at all cage them?…….. Just let them live freely in
jungles…all such zoos (like the ones at Byculla) should be closed
forever. I am sure; the Creator did intend freedom to all His creations!
JAGDISH KHANNA
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12.
The report is a Good work done.
But let me assure you that condition of zoos are the same all over
We need to go into the question – “why the Zoo is necessary? When we can not manage them properly, when we can not afford them, why have them?
Set the Animals free and let them live in a natural surroundings. If it is for
educating the children, if it is for specific breeding or research, then special facilities can be created.
Children can be educated by films made on animals similar to the films National Geographics, Discovery Channels.
There is absolutely no need for these zoos.
And finally, like I always point out, it is all because of deficient education/values, no wisdom teaching in education that every system is mismanaged /misgoverned / functionally pathetic. People lack impersonal vision, wisdom. Complete education – education with wisdom is a necessarily for the required change in society.
Sushil Jain
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13.
It is an interesting reading. Animals are a ‘life’ and must be protected the same way as we love fellow human beings. PAWS have done a good job by visiting and making a report. It will go a long way if PAWS could get the information vouched from the Zoo Keepers under the Right to Information Act, 2005, and then take them to court for making individual keepers responsible and answerable.
G.C. Mathur
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14.
Animal vs Super-animal. What you describe is pathetic. The Zoo Maintenance Staff should certainly be hauled up for deriliction of duty but in my opinion greater problem is posed by visiting public; we Indians are generally unruly, misbehaved, un-civilised and insensitive to others what to say of poor animals. Recently, its this type of behaviour by a few in the North West Flight that created an undesirable situation leading to stern action by the Dutch. What’s wrong then; it’s they against the rest who respect decency and decorum.
Such segment of the larger public need to be treated with disdain. Super- animals who run amock in the zoo premises, should be put behind the cage instead.
Narayan Moorthy
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15.
This email has completely disturbed me. I am not exactly an animal lover but I think if the municipal corporation cannot take care of animals then they do not have the right to run a zoo, your mail suggests that the care takers are not bothered about what animals are fed and their safety, I quite like to know if they are trained enough to take care of animals. I am worried about the state of the zoo and its management. I reckon the condition would be worst in monsoons. Well I am not really sure if a surprise visit is only enough by a NGO vet and this I say with due respect to all the professionals and people working closely in this regard and pardon me for my lack of knowledge on this issue. In my opinion animal care should be taken up by Municipal corporation and an NGO so that better care can be taken for animals and also able to raise funds, to provide them better living conditions.
Pallavi
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16.
I whole-heartedly applaud the efforts of PAWS for this operation and its shocking to note this situation of Mumbai zoo. Has it been reported to the press? I request you and PAWS to please do so. The press is the only way these atrocities be exposed to the public and the concerned authorities will have no option but immediately act. A report submission and going by the rules of the book will possibly gain nothing. By the
time things go by the rules of the book, perhaps there would be nothing left but a “carcassed” Byculla zoo.
Pramod Pisharody
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17.
It is really a pathetic condition! It is necessary to sensitize Government on such issues. I am sure, most of the zoos must be in similar condition.
Should we try Maneka Gandhi to intervene?
Dhananjay bhatt
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18.
Zoo should be privatised, very clearly….
Sanjeeta Joshi
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19.
Thanks for the message. In my opinion, the Zoo should be moved to a place, which can give the animals a more natural, larger and humane environment. The BMC should move out of these businesses and hand it over to private parties who can with the help of volunteers; NGOs and interested citizens run the place.
We are not only killing the animals but also killing their self-esteem.
V Krishnan
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20.
It is a real eye opener & have a very strong feeling that BMC should closed down the zoo & donate the animals to a better zoo so they do not have to take care of any things.
Mehul Mehta
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21.
We are most inhuman. When we can’t look after the human beings how do we
expect that humans will look after animals. The zoo authorities must be
having a feast with the money provided for the zoo.
I suggest that the zoos in
get a sigh of relief.
AK Rastogi
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22.
I had tried all this in 1982 without success. Things have not changed since then – only gotten worse. I was told that the saltpan land – 400 acres – in Mulund was reserved for a new state of art zoo but go ahead was not being received.
It is possible to collect funds and re-develop the zoo but nothing without BMC cooperation and political assistance.
Anil Chandhok
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23.
This is very pathetic. What is the government doing with the public money. It’s shame on our city that we do not have a quality zoo with proper upkeep and maintenance of animal. I agree with the recommendations of forming a committee to oversee the anomalies. Please spread this news as far as possible and provide it to the media.
Suvarna
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24.
This report on the Mumbai zoo is exhaustive and informative. You can add more weight-age to this report if a comparative report is prepared with zoos in other major metros, wherein the plus and minus of this zoo can be known to all readers and that might prompt the concerned officials to take corrective actions on the flaws.
Murali
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25.
Thanks for sending this article. The suggestion of allowing NGO and having committee inspection looks right.
One more suggestion is to approach the big industrialist and request them to adopt animals as done by Mr.Ratan Tata.
Can this be done and how do we approach the biggies?
Sunder
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26.
Really appreciate the efforts taken by the team.
I think it is high time that all the animals and Zoo
to be shifted to
With the help of corporates, new state-of-art zoo can
be built in the park.
Srinivas
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27.
After reading the status of Mumbai zoo, I really feel sorry about the animals & personally feel that zoo should have a committee Dist. Vet, representative of of NGO Council, AWBI’s Animal Welfare Officers & local humanitarians who can give surprise visit any time during the day or night. and take care of things and provide the required facilities to the animals. Zoo is not only the place of entertainment for human being but safety and food-shelter of animals should also be taken care of.
Yogeshwar
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28.
Time for serious awakening and action!!!!!!!! Thanks for bringing these harshly facts to our notice.We support you in the cause.
Sugra
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29.
I am based at
conditions prevailing at the Byculla Zoo.
This is what happens when people who don’t have a love for their jobs are
made to do them. I am sure the conditions at other zoos in
no different as indifferent, incompetent, uneducated and sullen staff with
no accountability or training for their jobs are in place everywhere.
This is a legacy of our so called socialist past. I am forwarding your mail
to the times of
think the only way of handling things like this is to do a pil and force
closure of all such places till we have made sufficient advances as a
nation to turn our attention to things like this, and enforce governance
like other countries do.
Ashutosh
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30.
I am sorry I just didnât have the heart to go through your entire information as it was heart breaking and extremely depressing as I have been to zoos abroad where u can only but feel that the animals there are so lucky., the animals though kept in cages are kept in climate control conditions , according to their requirements.
The purpose of the zoo world wide is to make people respect the flora and the fauna and natures gifts, the wild animals that are kept there out of the choice of humans., for our eyes ,satisfaction , to educate our young ones, just imagine what education will our city kids make of our zoo, nothing but considering them as mere exhibits that can be mocked , teased etc.
I strongly condemn the idea of having a zoo in the city which is nothing but a torture to these poor animals, as I have been an intern in the Mumbai zoo during my undergraduate studies I know exactly how the state of the affairs have been., the zoo gardens are in better condition and taken better care of than the poor animals .
The whole purpose of having a zoo is not kept in mind and i therefore am in full support of shutting down this slow torture of the animals in there unless strong action is not taken to correct the situation as soon as possible.
Since I have experience of working in a zoo abroad, if there is any help and support that I can offer Iâll only be happy
Dr. Deepa Katyal- M.V.Sc (Mum.) , M.V.St.(
Hon. Vet & Trustee P.F.A, Member Animal Welfare Board.
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31.
The state of the zoo is indeed pathetic and needs instant rehabilitation.
The information in this case is really good.
Sudhir Dongre
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32.
Who do I write to for improving the state of affairs? I mean to start an email petition campaign to bring this to the notice of authorities who can make a difference, and an internet donation programme to help improve the state of affairs for these tortured animals.
I am part of an international environmental group called Care2, and would like to do anything I can to help.
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33.
I do appreciate the concern for the well-being of the zoo animals with which members of PAWS have gone around tinkering inside the zoo. However, the insinuation or near comparison to jail inmates totally misdirects our thought process, to the global process of conservation, in which world zoos are involved, the byculla zoo being no exception.
I do agree that a positive change is absolutely MUST for the improvement of our zoo and a massive plan for the same has been proposed, including budget running into crores, which wud include CCD Televisions, more training of keepers, improvements of hospitals and public awareness facilities, as well as enclosure redesigning on the lines of what is happening in the 1st world – naturalistic designs…
However, this is the MOST unscientific and unqualified piece of writing and reporting i have seen in my entire life. It is unnecessarily trying to misguide people with non-issues and create a bad reputation for the Byculla zoo in specific and zoos in general. Clearly it also disregards the fact that the Byculla Zoo premises holds one of the most beautiful botanical gardens and many bonatists and nature enthusiasts regularly watch birds, butterflies, bats and even migrants in this fabulous green patch kept SAFE in the city ONLY due to the ZOO. With the closure of the Zoo, we shall surely have a mall or a skyscrapper and resulting traffic congestion in this now peaceful locale! (Ref: Lokasatta had conducted a whole series of nature outings here)
1. (Anyways Deer, elephants, crocodiles are animals of the forest and live in the OPEN in the wild and open enclosures are found in the best zoos in the world even where it snows. besides crocodiles being social creatures always fight for food even in wild regions – thats natural competition!
2. MIxed species enclosures – with gharial, sambar, turtle and birds is a common phenomenon in many leading world zoos as gharial are fish eaters and not carnivorous as the organisation is trying to insinuate. so it is extremely pointless to try to speak about that! It is a GOOD enclosure to say the least!
3. Snakes (and most reptiles) have poorly developed brains and teasing is something they dont respond to or understand like birds, mammals or humans (if you like to be a separate animal group). hence it is baseless to say that snakes were being teased. besides misbehaviour by PEOPLE is not something that the zoo authorities should be blamed with – maybe the social law and order should look into indiscipline – this is not a school, public misbehaviour whether with animals or with each other is something for the civil administration to look into.
4. The snakes drink from pools in the wild and pans are not such a bad option, and making statements like fork and spoon just shows the petty and intentional malice that this organisation wants to spread about the Zoo.
5. Geophagia or eating mud is something watched even in wild elephants, monkeys, langurs, in salt licks, so causing disease is a partially true statement, unless soil has disease.
I can go on and on with each point, however, i am forwarding this email to some members on the CZA as well as to members of the World Association for Zoos and Aquaria, so that all could send in their reactions. It is sad that such half baked and partially true ideas and misplaced sympathy coloured with anthropomorphic comparisons misguides and confused general public about the real picture.
I think our roads, schools, hospitals or railways all need a HUGE upgradation, but all we do is go harping about the problems in our zoo, without supporting and helping in making it BETTER. Zoos around the world have saved MORE species and restored several extinct from the wild species go back into their natural homes, than so many conservation efforts spending millions of dollars havent managed to do! I think with zoo education, research and volunteering we can surely make a BIG difference rather than this constant highhanded clamping and siren blowing.
I do agree that many points made are valid too and need to be looked into, however, this totally alarmist and all hell hath broken loose reportage is absolutely unwarranted!
PS: The writers of this report cant differentiate between dear and Deer and are making judgements about others work! Also Lions and lionesses never ‘live’ together all the time in Gir, nor do the females live in prides like in
Anand Pendharkar – Widlife Biologist & International Zoo Educator,
(M.Sc Wildlife Science), Director, SPROUTS, Mumbai
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34.
This was really very bad experience for you . And horrible way to treat the
animals. If we remember Dashavatars and people of
improve the pathetic conditions the animals are in. Instead of building the
temples take them to the zoo. Ask school kids to accept one animal to care
for like we do it here.
If I can be of some help I will be glad to help. We have to reform through the social organisations.