DELHI ZOO ELEPHANTS FACE OVERCROWDING

[Guest guest]

*NEWS*

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=162270

** * * *Zoo elephants face space crunch* ** *Gopal

Sathe*<http://www.expressindia.com/about/feedback.html?mailto=editor@expressindi\

a.com>

**

 

*New Delhi, December 21: **Elephants at the Delhi Zoo are restless these

days because of overcrowding, say zoo authorities. *

 

*Zoo veterinarian Dr M Paneerselvam said the elephant enclosure has been

facing a space crunch in the last two months as four elephants rescued from

illegal ownership by the Wildlife Department have been transferred here. *

 

*[image: Advertisement]* ***According to Director D.N. Singh: ''The

Wildlife department has met with considerable success against elephant

trading. Because the elephants are captured very young they don't have the

necessary skills to survive. So they are in no condition to be released in

the wild. The zoo, therefore, is the best place to send them to.'' *

 

*But nothing is being done to enlarge the enclosures. Singh, however, says

this is because the zoo does not know whether the animals are to be kept

here permanently. *

 

* " Right now, no decision decision related to the elephants can be taken. The

Wildlife department has not handed them over to us permanently. they are

also trying to find out what best can be done in the interest of the

animals. But that means we cannot trade the elephants with another zoo, or

reduce the number in any way, " says Singh. *

 

*According to Singh: " If they decide to hand over the elephants to us, we

can request for some extra keepers and build an additional enclosure, which

will reduce crowding. The elephants will then be able to roam about freely

again, without bothering each other. " *

 

*Apart from this, the Delhi Zoo plans to launch an enrichment programme for

which approval from the Central Zoo Authority is pending. *

 

* " The programme will focus on both the visitors and animals. The first phase

of this programme has been the upgradation of amenities for visitors, and by

March, all water points in the zoo will be upgraded to cater to the

disabled. Facilities inside the cages will also be monitored but it is too

early to say anything, " Singh said.*