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Calendar on the condition of zoo inmates
HOPING TO drive home the message of wildlife conservation and to present a humane image of animals kept in the zoos across the country, the Central Zoo Authority, a statuary body under the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests, has dedicated its annual calendar this year to the theme - "Better Housing for Zoo Animals."
The photo calendar has captured zoo inmates in "almost natural" settings. Featured here are the Himalayan Black Bear, found in the area between the Himalayas and the north-eastern hills, Barking Deer, Lion Tail Macaque, Chimpanzees, and White Stork, all housed in Delhi Zoo. Also shown are the endangered Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephants, Hippopotamus, Gharial and Sambar photographed from zoos across the country, including the Hyderabad and Aizwal zoos.
The pictures, according to CZA officials, are aimed at improving the perception of the common people about the way animals are kept in zoos and have been the result of the combined effort of wildlife photographers and members of the CZA.
Keenly involved with the conceptualisation of the calendar, Scientist, CZA, Brij Kishor Gupta, whose pictures are also featured in the calendar, says: "We have brought out the wall calendar on themes relating to wild fauna with a view to generating awareness and public support for its conservation. The theme of this year's calendar is `Better Housing for the Zoo Animals,' and is aimed at improving the general perception that zoos are like jails where animals are incarcerated for life. The fauna depicted in this year's calendar tries to dispel this perception. We are trying to tell people that things are changing and that more and more animals are now being housed in open, large naturalistic enclosures in various zoos, which are more humane."
Since 1996, the Authority has brought out calendars based on themes like fauna of the Himalayan bio-geographical region, fauna of North-East India, wildlife of wetlands, wildlife of arid landscape, wild animals in service of humanity, know your zoos and zoos - strengthening the national efforts in conservation of wildlife.
Presently, the country has 164 recognised zoos, of which 54 are major ones, the rest being mini-zoos and deer parks.
These zoos have been contributing to conservation of wild fauna by way of education and breeding of endangered wild animals.
"Some of the animals featured here were kept in very small boxes and now have been rehabilitated in various zoos. This year we have featured a pair of Hillock Gibbon, which are listed under endangered species. These were rescued and rehabilitated. We hope to provide people with a more positive view of these animals,'' says the member-secretary of CZA, P.R. Sinha.
By Bindu Shajan Perappadan
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
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