(IN) Help needed: Volunteer in Archiving ASIATIC LION NEWS on Asiatic Lion Group and on o

[Guest guest]

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.

 

 

 

 

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. "

 

 

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