In 3 months, 11 animals have died at the city zoo ……..Ashutosh Patil
Caught in the battle between BMC and heritage committee, the health of animals is suffering
Caught in the battle between BMC and heritage committee, the health of animals is suffering
Eleven animals have died in the past three months at the Mumbai zoo in Jijamata Udyan, Byculla of various ailments, even as the BMC plans a facelift for the zoo. Among the dead are a lioness, an alligator, black bucks and barking deer.
Zoo authorities who have been unable to upgrade facilities for the animals blame the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) for their plight. Zoo director Anil Anjankar said, The modernisation plan is ready since 2008, but we have not got MHCCs go-ahead.
The matter is caught up in technicalities. Dinesh Afzalpurkar, chairman, MHCC said, We are not against zoo modernisation, but there are heritage structures in that garden that need to be protected. The zoo is located in one of the citys largest green cover, formerly known as Victoria Gardens.
The BMC plans to get more animals from other parts of the country and even abroad, while activists have raised concerns about the health of existing animals in the zoo.
Apart from 477 birds of 38 species and 36 reptiles of seven species, the zoo is home to a lioness, two elephants, a rhino, four crocodiles and eight alligators. Animal activist Dharmesh Solanki questioned why veterinarians were not available at the zoo at all times.
He said, The lack of veterinarians at the zoo at all times is surprising. The one they have works on a 9 am to 6 pm shift. But who will take the call if an animal needs medical treatment at say 8 pm? The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has made it mandatory for all zoos to have round the clock medical supervision.
An official agreed that the zoo flouted many norms. He said, A modern facility which the CZA had demanded is also not in place. Animals kept in temporary shades are in pathetic condition.
* Several barking deer succumbed to their ailments
* Several barking deer succumbed to their ailments