The Hindu : New Delhi News : Zoo Authority plans to update data

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 20, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Zoo Authority plans to update data

By Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI, OCT. 19. To catch up with the backlog of work that has been piling up over the years, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has undertaken a mammoth exercise to clear all pending paper work to keep the zoos, rescue centres and parks under its supervision healthy and in order.

For this purpose, the CZA has divided its work and empanelled zoo and wildlife experts of State government service to help get on top of the huge accumulated work. Having already set and divided the country into southern, western, northern, east/north-eastern region, CZA has made a list of the States to be covered under the scheme and identified personnel for the exercise which will cover zoos, rescue centres, deer parks and mini zoos operating in the country.

`The Regional Panel for Evaluation of Mini Zoos, Deer Parks and Rescue Centres in India', constituted by the CZA will help the authority to keep abreast with all information for helping it to continue with its work on evaluating and granting reorganisations to various zoos, rescue centres and parks in the country.

The CZA officials claim that they had fallen back in keeping up with evaluation of these various facilities, leading to various problems.

With this exercise, the CZA is hoping to speed up its work and take stock of the various captive animal sites. The CZA has already started writing to various State facilities to begin the work.

"While the large, medium and small zoos are evaluated by teams of two experts by the CZA, there has been a backlog of a large number of mini zoos, deer parks, rescue centres and circuses, which are to be evaluated for the purpose of consideration of granting recognition to them. For the purpose of evaluation of mini zoos, deer parks, rescue centres and circuses, the CZA has been undertaken an exercise with the help of the State groups and we hope to not only keep our books in order but also help keep the animals in good shape. It is an important task and the need to take stock and keep ourselves abreast with the condition of the various facilities cannot be over stressed,'' explained member secretary of CZA, B.R. Sharma.

The CZA has already made out a list of those whose services are required and written to States including Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Punjab asking for assistance for carrying out the exercise without a problem. "Special help has also been sought to cover and update the CZA about mini zoos and the centres. We hope to cover and maintain books on all the animal facilities that exists in the country, so that we can keep the animals in captivity in good shape,'' said Mr. Sharma.

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