KING TRAGEDY

[Guest guest]

 

" Dr.Sandeep Kumar Jain " <jeevdaya04

 

waza.secretariat, waza.director

 

KING TRAGEDY-Status of Lions in M Chaudhary (Chattbir) Zoo

Punjab(India)

 

Thu, 21 Jul 2005 06:43:42 IST

 

Saturday, July 2, 2005

 

Forget the lion king. It is dying slowly. Chhatbir zoo’s pride, the lion safari,

has nothing better to show than emaciated animals. And, the zoo itself tells a

story of neglect and corruption.

 

Gayatri Rajwade reports.

 

ON THEIR LAST LEGS: These lions are unable to defend themselves from even lesser

creatures

 

A look back at the crisis-ridden years of Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park or

the Chhatbir zoo, as it is popularly known, seems symptomatic of the

indifference plaguing India’s wildlife.

 

Spread over a 202-hectare reserve and housing close to 800 different species of

animals, Chhatbir was once considered a fine example in the country of how

zoological parks are to be run, but all this seems history now.

 

The Lion Safari at Chhatbir, once a source of pride and joy, and the planned

breeding programmes, particularly of the endangered Asiatic lion, has come under

severe criticism. Today, the Safari hosts a mere 24 gaunt, wasted lions from

nearly 100 in the year 2000.

 

The problem, perhaps, lies in the role played by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA)

under whose governance come all zoological parks in India. The CZA implements,

among other programmes, planned breeding projects in zoos. In the words of the

Member Secretary, B. R. Sharma, the role of the CZA is " more that of a

facilitator than a regulator " . According to Sharma, " We can only provide

guidance. We are like the lifeboats on the Titanic. "

 

The beleaguered Chhatbir zoo had a central role to play in the captive breeding

of the existing hybrid lions. In fact, India’s entire captive royal cat

population, in zoos all over the country, is facing the death sentence

literally. Chhatbir zoo pioneered the programme that resulted in tainting the

gene pool, exposing almost 100 hybrid lions to diseases their bodies were unable

to fight.

 

Status of zoos

 

Since its inception in 1992, the Central Zoo Authority has evaluated 347 zoos

existing in India. The status of these is as follows:

 

164 have been recognised.

 

183 have been refused recognition, of which 92 have been closed down.

 

91 existing zoos remain derecognised. These exist because the animals have to be

moved to suitable places.

 

Gene pool weakens

 

A. S. Dogra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden

for the Chandigarh Administration, agrees the flawed union between an Asiatic

lion and an African one resulted in the hybrid strain. But, he believes " the

actual damage was caused by the inbreeding that weakened the gene pool

considerably. "

 

Chhatbir, in the late 1970s, had procured good Asiatic lions from Junagarh,

their natural habitat. According to Dogra, " A travelling circus was hauled up by

the courts and an African lion from the circus was assigned to Chhatbir for

upkeep. In those days, the staff knew no better. The two species were kept in

the same enclosure and this resulted in cross-breeding. " The result: the Asiatic

lion lost its hardier characteristics.

 

To prevent further inbreeding, vasectomies were performed on the lions in

accordance with the directives issued by the CZA. The lions today are mangy and

emaciated, suffering from mental and physical defects. Wildlife laws prohibit

them from being put to sleep despite their obvious agony.

 

Dogra believes one can only wait for the animals to die. " We have had several

talks for the procurement of the pure breeds and have faced enough flak for a

mistake that was not deliberate. We will be very careful with the next lot of

lions we get. "

 

Sandeep Jain, President of the Ludhiana chapter of the People For Animals (PFA),

who looks after Chandigarh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, and is the Inspecting

Authority, Animal Welfare Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests, recently

conducted a survey on the condition of lions in Chhatbir. He believes, " The

hybrid lions should not be displayed. This is against the norms laid down by the

CZA, which says only pure-breds should be shown to the public. Also, the lions

currently in the zoo are not physically up to their optimum strength. They

should be left alone. "

 

The zoo authorities seem aware of this moot point. Chhatbir Zoo Director Kuldip

Kumar reveals a grant of Rs 18.54 lakh has been given by the CZA to create a

special off-display enclosure for the old and sick lions. " Of the 24 currently

on display, 10 lions will be removed to the special area which will be

off-limits to the general public. They can roam about and stay there for the

remaining part of their lives in peace, " he adds.

 

Chhatbir has been mired in controversies and allegations of corruption and

mismanagement, including severe neglect of its animal population, for a while

now. With the birth of a new sarus crane chick a few days back, zoo officials

are hopeful the breeding programmes and the zoo’s reputation will be restored.

 

The authorities admit to severe mismanagement in the past but Kumar says his

conscience is clear. " In the two years that I have been here I have tried to

improve the condition of the animals, keep the park running in a scientific

manner and leave a legacy of clean governance for my successor. "

 

Clean-up act

 

According to B. R. Sharma, attempts are being made to clean up the management of

zoos across the country. " The zoos are governed by 51 stringent norms and

standards. In fact, a directive issued by the Supreme Court in November 2000 has

stated that no new zoos must come up without the authority and approval of the

CZA and the court. Since then, no new zoos have been commissioned. "

 

Apart from providing technical and financial assistance to attain the desired

standard in animal management, the CZA also regulates the exchange of animals in

the endangered category listed under Schedule I and II of the Wildlife

Protection Act. It also implements programmes on building zoo personnel and

doing research on the conservation of species. All these are an integral part of

zoo development the world over.

 

Despite a governing body, Chhatbir zoo has been facing incessant charges of

corruption and neglect over the past six years. The problems came to light in

2000. Zoo Director Vinod Sharma, who had started out as the Veterinary Doctor to

Chhatbir, in 1977 was appointed Acting Director in 1997. He allegedly " began

misusing his authority " and held the post till 2002. His appointment created

ripples in the bureaucracy. According to a Punjab and Haryana High Court order,

an officer of the rank of Conservator of Forests in the IFS cadre alone could

hold charge of Director (Zoo). Dr Sharma was only a veterinary doctor.

 

Between 2001 and 2002, many irregularities came to light: inflated tenders for

the contract for supplying meat (to the tune of Rs 30 lakh), the scam over

recycling and resale of admission tickets (amounting to a profit of Rs 10 lakh),

financial mismanagement in allotting advertisement spaces and the death of

animals under mysterious circumstances were in the news. Accusations that

carcasses of carnivores were skinned and sold in the market were also made

against Vinod Sharma. His arrest in March 2003 by the Vigilance Bureau was

followed by a change of guard and a new zoo director was brought in.

 

However, the problems did not quite abate. In less than three months after his

exit, a number of tigers and lions, animals under Schedule I of the Wildlife

Protection Act 1972, died. The year 2004 brought with it more deaths of animals,

which Kumar insists are " normal mortality deaths " occurring in zoos. These

included a rhinoceros that died of rabies, a swamp deer, Royal Bengal tigers,

lions, a bonnet monkey and a sarus crane chick.

 

Another scam

 

May 2005 saw yet another " scam " ?that of supply of stale meat of dead animals,

skinned in filthy conditions from the Kolagarh locality in Saharanpur. Kumar is,

however, emphatic in his denial of such allegations. " According to the inquiry

report, the slaughterhouse of the contractor is in the Kamelai area, which is

approved by the Municipal Corporation (MC), and not Kolagarh, which is not

certified by the MC. " Both Dogra and Kumar believe this " rumour-mongering " is

the outcome of infighting in the cartel of meat suppliers wanting to gain

control over the supply of meat to the zoo.

 

Zoos in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh depend on meat supplied by the

slaughterhouses in Saharanpur as there is a ban on killing cows and buffaloes in

Punjab and Haryana. Almost 500 kilos of meat is supplied in a day. Kumar is

hoping the government will allow the zoo to buy meat from a supplier in Dera

Bassi where the price is higher than what is paid currently but the quality can

be ensured.

 

Similarly, the absence of a hospital and the two mandatory veterinary doctors,

as laid down under CZA norms, has also raised questions about the state of

animal health and welfare. Both Dogra and Kumar admit there is only one vet on

board. Dogra believes there is " substance to these issues " . Kumar says repeated

requests to the Animal Husbandry Department have not elicited a response yet.

" However, we have a panel of three doctors outside the zoo who help us out

whenever we need them " .

 

Hospital in zoo

 

Within the next six months a hospital facility with an operation theatre, X-ray

machine and semi-automatic analyser for quick test results will be operational

at Chhatbir. The zoo has got Rs 21.25 lakh from the CZA for developing a

hospital facility. In addition, the CZA has also sanctioned Rs 15.75 lakh for an

incinerator for dead animals and the safe disposal of waste.

 

Books for breeding, regular registrations involving veterinary doctors from

outside the zoo for animals that die and a gradual reduction in the number of

animals without indiscriminate inbreeding or procurement are all steps in the

right direction. Kumar is clear about his goals. " We want to be able to nurture

and then maintain what we have. Therefore, we are consciously working towards

streamlining and bringing transparency into our working. " Towards this, efforts

have been made to deal with the grievances of the staff as well to facilitate

better functioning of the zoo. He believes a major portion of his two years with

Chhatbir have been spent battling the controversies and a divided employee

union.

 

Sandeep Jain of the PFA, who visited the Chhatbir zoo in January this year,

says, " There is a definite need for better management. Lack of trained staff and

expertise that should be present in the wildlife department is sorely lacking.

Shortage of finances is evident from the lack of machinery, equipment and basic

medical facilities for the animals. "

 

Kumar acknowledges there is a long way to go but he says his team is trying.

" Give us a chance to prove these allegations wrong, give us time to rectify the

mistakes and do not stand on judgment over what happened more than five years

ago. "

 

Jain believes, " The primary reason for the existence of zoos today is to fulfil

an educational and scientific role in our society. Animals should not be kept in

a confined atmosphere. Also, they should not be kept alone if they are not used

to it. "

 

Arpan Sharma of Samrakshan, a trust to promote and propagate the conservation of

wildlife, forests and the environment, believes the very concept of a zoo is

flawed. " Zoos claim to educate people, preserve species but they usually fall

short on these counts. For one, zoos promote only the continuation of exotic

animals like tigers and lions, which people do not get to see often. Natural

mating and behaviour patterns are eliminated by regulated feeds and breeding

regimes. These conditions often result in abnormal and self-destructive

behaviours or " zoochosis " . Animals breed best and are happiest in their natural

environment and zoos are actually damaging to their morale. Let them be free for

that is where they belong. "

 

Whichever way one may look at it, zoos are the repository of exotic and common

animals and are essential centres of research and breeding programmes besides

educating people and they are definitely here to stay.

 

The Chhatbir zoo, which turned a not-so-venerable 28 years old this April, was

inaugurated in 1977 as a dream project of Dr Mahendra Chaudhary, then Governor

of Punjab. It is striving hard to achieve the same standing but the battle seems

far from over yet.

 

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050702/saturday/main1.htm

 

Dr.Sandeep K.Jain