Mumbai Zoo - AWFUL Place

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

Further to my posts last week on Mumbai Zoo, Our Campaigns & replies from

general people, now here is some Anti-PAWS report with answers by some of

our supporters.

 

I always feel the critisism should b there but should be very healthy. All

are working for welfare of mute animals, just the way of working is

different!

 

I really got a question in mind about 'GLOBAL PROCESS OF CONSERVATION THAT

WORLD ZOO'S ARE INVOLVED' - This statement can be fine for other zoos in

world but Mumbai Zoo - Just Hell for Animals!

 

(I know what is the relation of Anand with this zoo vets but won't comment

on that)

 

Nilesh

 

-

anand pendharkar

 

RE: Status of Mumbai Zoo - an eye-opener

 

Dear friends,

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!

 

Regards,

 

Anand Pendharkar

Widlife Biologist & International Zoo Educator

(M.Sc Wildlife Science), SPROUTS

Mumbai

 

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 Africa, hence separate keeping of individuals with close

proximity is not terribly abnormal. So many of the statements show serious

lack of education and knowledge about the life history and behaviour of

the creatures they are making comments about!

 

#############################################

 

Reply to Anand's comments on Inspection Report prepared by PAWS on the

Mumbai zoo

 

While I appreciate the time and effort you have taken in giving your

detailed point by point responses to the Inspection Report prepared by

PAWS on the Mumbai zoo, the language and tone of your reply leaves much to

be desired.

 

Possibly un-intentionally, your reply assumes a condescending manner,

about PAWS " tinkering " around and being " un-scientific " about their

approach.

 

As you would have observed in the report, no where is it mentioned that

this was a " scientific " study, and the choice of how seriously it needs to

be taken rests entirely with the reader; one is not being forced to accept

all that is said and act upon it.

 

As you may be aware, the Victoria Gardens was designed and intended to be a

Botanical Garden, and not a Zoo, and the animals were introduced into the

Gardens at some stage, and in a largely un-scientific way, and hence the

ill-designed " zoo " came into being.

 

By mixing up the two issues of politicians and builders having an eye on the

Victoria Gardens land, and PAWS suggestion to close down the zoo, you are

being as confused and ir-rational in your thinking as you accuse the

writers of the report of being.

 

Where in the report does it say that the bats and butterflies are not

needed and should be removed?

 

PAWS is not suggesting that the Byculla Zoo be opened up to builders - they

specifically said the Zoo should be shut down , ie. the animals must be

removed from there.

 

While several of the observations made by PAWS regarding the snakes,

lions, and lioness may be debatable as pointed out by you, one must be

able to see beyond the actual words and understand the message that is

being sent in this report.

 

That message is that ALL the animals in the Byculla Zoo are extremely

unhappy and uncared for - anybody who visits the zoo can see it, and sense

it, and it makes you sick - you never want to visit the place again, and

we should be glad that someone like PAWS went one step further and

actually wrote down what they saw and felt.

 

The " real picture " is that the Byculla Zoo is an AWFUL place, and badly

needs to be re-structured and improved, and we are all aware that such

efforts are currently underway.

 

Another " real picture " that you should be aware of is that discipline and

public mis-behaviour in the zoo is something that the social law and order

cannot look into - and hence it would be most effective for the zoo

authorities themselves take responsibility for, or else shut down till

they are able to do so. The BMC relies on the Police, which after it is

done with protecting our politicians, and Ganesh Pandals, and regulating

hawkers, and shutting down dance bars, and regulating adult

cable content, is unlikely to be effective with public behaviour in the zoo.

 

The writers of the report did not claim to be experts with complete

knowledge on the subject; what they did express however was their concern

about the current situation. It is surprising that you, yourself being an

environmental educator, are not able to see and distinguish this, and also

guide a person over the mistakes, instead of being quite nasty about the

mistakes.

 

Lastly, the accusations about the organisation being petty and malicious

are really surprising - the topic we are discussing is the condition of

the zoo - and no matter how scientifically you present that, it is at

present, PATHETIC.

 

Regards,

 

Tanu

 

------

 

I don't want to get into commenting on comments etc but I do object to

anyone writing to WAZA and CZA and signing with a title related to our

various networks, such as Anand has done in signing as International Zoo

Educator. I know that IZE would not want such a letter to go out with the

implication it Is one of their members. I object as convenor of the

regional network. I am currently at the WAZA meeting where I will have to

report this to IZE President and apologize and explain.

 

Responding in this way helps only the writer get rid of frustration. It

doesn't make a whit of difference. PAWS' campaign is for zoo free

countries. They will say whatever they feel gets results. They are

focusing on phillipines now

 

In WAZA now we are about to approve a Substandard Zoo Resolution which I

initiated over 2 years ago without saying anything offensive to anyone. In

this initiative there will be many ways to implement this including

sometimes zoos working with welfare organisations. There are perhaps

more than 10,000 zoos globally but MANY less than 1000 are " good " zoos. Zoo

Outreach Org networks will represent South Asia in this endeavour.

 

We as a region should work together and not waste our energy but invest in

action that will bring some positive result or at least not be destructive

to any helping organisation. Please don't use ZOO network names

carelessly.

 

Thanks

Sally Walker

----

 

hi friend,

I appreciate ur concern for animals. Even when I once tried to reach

officials and office bearers of mumbai's most famous animal welfare

ngo, PETA, it was on an Sunday, I was made to call 10 different

telephone numbers, but still there was no help. Finally I had to

give up all my hopes and that dog wounded had to die its death on

road.

 

Everyone needs off day once in a week, but calamities and

misfortunes don't come seeing calendar. Anyway lets appreciate,

whatever, they r doing to their best.

 

Anyway, I appreciate ur process in unearthing some fake Trusts and

NGO. I also believe, we need to do our job of exposing such fake

people exiting in society. It the process which I have been doing

for last many years, so have developed good contacts in media, which

could be of helpful, for ur case. So if u need my help, let me know.

 

Regards,

Jitendra gupta

98919235160

-------------------------

It was terrible reading the plight of Mumbai Zoo but not quite unexpected!

I have earlier written about the conditions in Deonar Abattoir and know

about the extensive report submitted by animal welfare groups making some

very concrete recommendations. However no action has been taken towards

improving conditions. Yes, I agree that if BMC can not look after

institutions, better enter in true public-private partnerships or else

these should be closed.

 

Dr. Ratna Magotra

9869251020