Kolkata:Alipore zoo is as much a horror house as its neighbour, Alipore Central jail.

[Guest guest]

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090915/jsp/calcutta/story_11494438.jsp

 

First master plan in 134 yrs

- Hope of larger cages and better conditions for zoo inmates

IMRAN AHMED SIDDIQUI

 

ZOO CAGE OR PRISON CELL? The tiger should soon get more breathing space at

Alipore zoo. Picture by Pradip Sanyal

Alipore zoo is as much a horror house as its neighbour, Alipore Central jail.

 

The realisation has finally dawned on zoo officials, who have drawn up a master

plan to build bigger enclosures for the inmates as part of the infrastructure

upgrade programme.

 

“Some of the animals look like prisoners in cramped cages that have not been

renovated in the past 50-60 years. We have drawn up a plan, approved by the

Central Zoo Authority (CZA), to upgrade the infrastructure for the inmates,”

Raju Das, the director of Alipore Zoological Gardens, told Metro.

 

This is the first time since its inception in 1875 that the zoo — now spread

across 45 acres, housing 1,270 birds, 231 mammals and 66 reptiles — will have a

master plan for facility upgrade for its inmates.

 

“We have to build several structures on the premises to create enough space for

the animals. Cages, providing all amenities, will be built considering the shape

and size of the animals and their natural habitat. We have already designed four

structures that will come up in the first phase,” said Das.

 

According to the master plan, the zoo would release some animals that are not

rare in their natural habitat. “We will also breed animals to be released into

the wild later.... We want the zoo to be used more for research than

recreational purposes,” Das said.

 

An official said the CZA had suggested in 2004 that the Alipore zoo be shut down

as it was not following the guidelines.

 

“The People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals (Peta) brought to light the

plight of the caged animals and requested the CZA to intervene two years ago.

They had highlighted the cramped cages and deplorable condition in which the

chimp, some birds and tigers were forced to live,” the official added.

 

On Sunday, the authorities had announced that visitors would not be allowed to

enter the compound with food from October 1.

 

“The zoo is in a bad shape and it will take at least a couple of years to

restore it. We won’t allow people to use the zoo as a picnic spot or a

playground,” Das asserted. “Guards will be deployed in the pockets that are

generally used as picnic spots.”

 

Zoo employees welcomed the proposed overhaul but said it should have come long

ago. “It took the theft of eight Common Marmosets (seven of which have been

recovered) to shake up the administration,” said one.

 

 

 

 

--

Thank you for your compassion !

With best regards,

Debasis Chakrabarti

Compassionate Crusaders Trust

http://www.animalcrusaders.org

[Guest guest]

A 'Zoo' has always been an 'Animal Prison'.

 

And some among them of the worst kind... maybe worse than what is

being alleged of the worst prison/ detention centre for human animals-

'The Guantanamo Bay'

 

And 'Alipore Zoo' would certainly be among the TOP 10 worse animal

prisons of the world.

 

The Tiger, is not only the National Animal of India, it ias also the

Pride of Bengal.

But this State seems too busy to cater to the requirments of the real

Tiger in captivity than the Human Tiger of Bengal - Cricketer Saurav

Ganguly.

 

Such is the state of affairs.

 

 

On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 7:38 AM, <debasischak wrote:

 

> http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090915/jsp/calcutta/story_11494438.jsp

>

> First master plan in 134 yrs

> - Hope of larger cages and better conditions for zoo inmates

> IMRAN AHMED SIDDIQUI

>

> ZOO CAGE OR PRISON CELL? The tiger should soon get more breathing space at

Alipore zoo. Picture by Pradip Sanyal

> Alipore zoo is as much a horror house as its neighbour, Alipore Central jail.

>

> The realisation has finally dawned on zoo officials, who have drawn up a

master plan to build bigger enclosures for the inmates as part of the

infrastructure upgrade programme.

>

> “Some of the animals look like prisoners in cramped cages that have not been

renovated in the past 50-60 years. We have drawn up a plan, approved by the

Central Zoo Authority (CZA), to upgrade the infrastructure for the inmates,”

Raju Das, the director of Alipore Zoological Gardens, told Metro.

>

> This is the first time since its inception in 1875 that the zoo — now spread

across 45 acres, housing 1,270 birds, 231 mammals and 66 reptiles — will have a

master plan for facility upgrade for its inmates.

>

> “We have to build several structures on the premises to create enough space

for the animals. Cages, providing all amenities, will be built considering the

shape and size of the animals and their natural habitat. We have already

designed four structures that will come up in the first phase,” said Das.

>

> According to the master plan, the zoo would release some animals that are not

rare in their natural habitat. “We will also breed animals to be released into

the wild later.... We want the zoo to be used more for research than

recreational purposes,” Das said.

>

> An official said the CZA had suggested in 2004 that the Alipore zoo be shut

down as it was not following the guidelines.

>

> “The People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals (Peta) brought to light the

plight of the caged animals and requested the CZA to intervene two years ago.

They had highlighted the cramped cages and deplorable condition in which the

chimp, some birds and tigers were forced to live,” the official added.

>

> On Sunday, the authorities had announced that visitors would not be allowed

to enter the compound with food from October 1.

>

> “The zoo is in a bad shape and it will take at least a couple of years to

restore it. We won’t allow people to use the zoo as a picnic spot or a

playground,” Das asserted. “Guards will be deployed in the pockets that are

generally used as picnic spots.”

>

> Zoo employees welcomed the proposed overhaul but said it should have come

long ago. “It took the theft of eight Common Marmosets (seven of which have been

recovered) to shake up the administration,” said one.

>

>

>

>

> --

> Thank you for your compassion !

> With best regards,

> Debasis Chakrabarti

> Compassionate Crusaders Trust

> http://www.animalcrusaders.org

>

>

>

> ---

>

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