Nandankanan Zoo to reduce population of animals

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*Nov 27, 2006*

*Nandankanan Zoo to reduce the number of animals*

Monday November 27 2006 11:22 IST

 

BHUBANESWAR: Nandankanan Zoo is all set to lose some flab. Putting it

straight, the zoo may soon have to part with half of its tigers and lions.

Or even more.

 

As per the new circular issued by Central Zoo Authority (CZA), no big zoo is

allowed to keep more than 10 of a particular species, Director of

Nandankanan Zoological Park Dr Ajit Kumar Patnaik told *this website's

newspaper*.

 

Similarly, captive breeding of species having no conservation value will not

be allowed. The CZA circular comes after Supreme Court banned breeding in

the 250 zoos across the country in view of overcrowding and inadequate care.

 

The CZA, in its circular, has also pointed out that the zoos would also have

to reduce the number of their inmates by way of exchange programmes.

 

Since overcrowding/over-population is the cause of worry, Nandankanan will

have to reduce the population of the large carnivores, tiger and lions to be

particular, and bring the figure down to the level of 10. Currently, the zoo

has 28 tigers (royal bengal and white tigers) and as many lions.

 

Nandankanan has already started the process. It has got into agreement with

Lucknow Zoo to hand it over a pair of RBTs in an exchange programme, while

the Goa zoo is ready to take two lions. It's now on the lookout for shifting

three more pairs of tigers in next few weeks.

 

However, the large zoos across the country are planning to move the CZA to

allow them to keep at least 10 large cats where there is a safari in place.

 

Confirming the view, Patnaik informed that Nandankanan too will urge the CZA

for permitting to house 10 tigers for its safari.

 

" We want to keep 20 tigers, ten for the safari and the rest for exhibit. Or

else, visibility will become a problem in the safari which is spread over an

approximate 6 acre land, " he said. This, in fact, is the view of other big

zoos.

 

If Nandankanan gets a green signal, it would have to part with just eight of

its tigers. For, lions are not a problem since most of them are over-age.

 

Of the 28 lions that Nandankanan has, at least 20 have attained the age of

18. Life of a lion in wild ranges between 14 to 16, while in captivity it is

slightly higher.

 

In fact, in view of their age, 30 percent of these lions are off exhibit in

the zoo. Managing them is not an issue for the animal park authorities.