(IN): PETA demands closure of Alipore Zoo

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Link: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200805271654.htm

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*PETA demands closure of Alipore Zoo*

 

Kolkata (PTI): People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), working

for animal rights, has demanded that Alipore Zoo be closed down by the

government for its alleged mishandling of animals, the recent being the

electrocution of a giraffe during transportation to Nandankanan zoo in

Bhubaneswar.

 

Threatening to stage demonstration in front of the zoo on wednesday to

protest the giraffe's death, PETA said here on Tuesday that the Central Zoo

Authority (CZA) had earlier sought to close down Alipore zoo in 2004 for its

failure to adhere to Zoo rules.

 

It said that the PETA had already conducted probe and exposed abysmal

condition of the animals and asked the CZA to take strict action against the

zoo authorities here.

 

" Jane Goodall, primate expert, visited the zoo in 2007 and was appalled by

the state of the chimp enclosure, " the PETA said.

 

Citing instances of violation of rules by the Alipore zoo, PETA's Campaign

Coordinator Sachin Bangera said " it is time the government takes a proactive

step by closing down the zoo where animals are suffering. "

 

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*PETA-India Zoo report 2006 on Alipore Zoological Gardens:*

 

http://www.petaindia.com/campaigns/entertainment-zoos-westBengal-aliporeZoologic\

alGardens.asp

Kolkata, West Bengal

February 2006

 

 

- Nearly all the enclosures are small and barren and do not have any

enrichment.

- No clean water or fresh food was observed in the enclosures.

- Garbage bins are overflowing throughout the zoo, and many of the

enclosures contain piles of decomposing rubbish.

- The moats in many of the enclosures are filthy and filled with debris.

The water in the crocodile enclosure is stagnant and has duck weed growing

in it.

- There are no guards to protect the animals from being teased and

harassed. On the day of our inspection, visitors were observed banging on

the mesh of the lion and tiger enclosure and making hooting noises to get

their attention.

- Stray cats and dogs roam all over the zoo.

- The deer's enclosure is full of flies who swarm all over them. The deer

are also traumatised by a busy, noisy road which passes near their

enclosure.

- There is an open-air restaurant in front of the hippo enclosure. Food

vendors sell food all around the zoo, and visitors were observed feeding

animals.

- The elephants are very thin. On the day our investigator was there,

they appeared hungry and were seen begging for food from the keeper, who did

not feed them.

- The bears have very long nails because their barren, ramshackle

enclosure does not provide them with anything to help wear them down.

- A lone zebra is kept in the zoo.

 

The water for the birds is too dirty to drink or bathe in, and the amount of

leaf matter reveals how long it has not been cleaned.

 

There is a pile of decomposing garbage on the zoo grounds, near the deer

enclosure.

 

This elephant, like all the other elephants in this zoo, is extremely thin.

There is no food or water in this enclosure.

 

This bear's nails are far too long. They are very uncomfortable for the bear

and must be clipped, as his bare enclosure provides no means to wear them

down himself.

 

This is the enclosure for the single zebra.

 

______________________________

 

*SOME ARCHIVE NEWS ON THE ZOO:*

 

Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1041013/asp/calcutta/story_3865692.asp

 

Blacklist cloud on Alipore zoo

- Watchdog may turn off funds tap

 

SWATI SENGUPTA

 

Press the panic button or prepare for the impending peril one of the oldest

zoos in the country has to choose between the two.

 

The Zoological Gardens of Calcutta, at Alipore, may be showcaused by the

Central Zoo Authority (CZA) if it fails to conform to a set of guidelines by

the year-end.

 

This could be followed by the CZA putting up a notice at the entrance, Visit

at your own risk?, and de-recognising the Alipore zoo.

 

Bipul Chakrabarty, CZA scientific officer, explained from Delhi: The

recognition helps the zoo get funds from us for various projects. It also

facilitates exchange of animals with other zoos in the country or abroad. If

the zoo fails to comply with our stipulations by the year-end, we will be

compelled to de-recognise it.

 

While renewing the recognition in February 2003, the CZA had placed a series

of conditions for the next renewal. The status report on compliance reads:

 

A curator should be appointed within six months for the upkeep of animals

and maintenance of enclosures. Zoo director Subir Chaudhuri said the state

government has been asked to create the post. The response is awaited.

 

The zoo was asked to procure mates for single and unpaired animals like the

lion-tailed macaque, pig-tailed macaque and the black buck.

 

The deadline was six months, but the animals continue to remain single.

 

Chaudhuri said his officials are trying to get a mate for the black buck.

The other two animals, he claimed, are past their prime and can no longer

breed.

 

The authorities were given six months to submit reports on their activities

in 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02. The reports are still being compiled.

 

The zoo was asked to set up natural enclosures for the primates, which are

now kept in caged enclosures. Deadline: one year.

 

Chaudhuri said two open-air enclosures have been set up, but they are not

spacious enough to house all primates at a time. So they are kept in open

enclosures and cages by turn. ?We will explain the ground reality to the

CZA, the director added.

 

The zoo authorities were also directed to:

 

Reduce the number of bonnet macaques from 18 and spotted deer from 63.

Chaudhuri, too, admitted the number was far too many, but we have to arrange

for alternatives before we can shift them?.

 

Reduce the number of eateries on the premises. The process has been

initiated. We have stopped renewing their licences, was the director's

response.

 

A CZA team will visit the zoo this year-end to verify whether the conditions

have been met.

 

Following the adoption of the National Zoo Policy in 1998, all major zoos

are becoming professional. Compare Arignar Anna Zoological Park (Chennai) or

Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Park (Mysore) with the Alipore zoo, and you

will notice the difference, said CZA scientific officer Chakrabarty.

 

The Alipore zoo also does not conduct educational activities for students,

he added.

 

Chaudhuri admitted this, but said steps are being taken to remove the

drawbacks.

 

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