Indian zoo work spreads wings internationally

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

I am pleased to say that the Indian Zoo Inquiry has got some

very good publicity of late and the zoo issue is making major moves in this

country.

It has been hosted by many notable institutions :

 

1) The library of the Governor of Bengal : Books on birds, butterflies and

other fauna in the Raj Bhavan Library, Kolkata

Link here :

 

http://rajbhavankolkata.nic.in/pdf/Occasional%20Paper%206.pdf

 

I am thrilled to see my name alongside luminaries like Gerald Durrell,

Malcolm Smith and Salim Ali. As a child, I had visited this library once

with my dad who had installed an elevator there and as I was fondling the

books, he had commented, " Maybe one day you will write something that will

find a place here ? " and I had replied, " Yes, why not? " I am glad to say

today that dream has been realised.

 

2) India Environment Portal of the Centre for Science and Environment and

National Knowledge Commission of the Government of India :

 

http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/content/the-indian-zoo-inquiry-a-review\

-conditions-zoos-india

 

 

3) ElephantVoices :

http://www.elephantvoices.org/elephant-interests/publications-a-reports.html

 

 

I am also happy to state that my Masters Thesis on British zoos has now been

hosted by Zoocheck Canada :

 

An Investigation of British Zoos: A Journalistic Perspective (2004) :

http://www.zoocheck.com/Reportpdfs/Ghoshthesis2004.pdf

 

I am stating this because I am no longer keen on visiting zoos and my career

change bears testimony to the change although my commitment remains all the

same.

 

I have, of course, a great many people to thank for the project having come

this far to highlight the condition of captive animals in India.

 

My original inspiration, Virginia McKenna. Rob Laidlaw, who went out of his

way to support the project and continues to render support when I need it.

Rob candidly told me this project was unusual because his organization does

not work much outside North America. Among other things, Rob and I have

similar political and religious ideals.

 

Everyone at the former Compassionate Crusaders Trust/People for Animals

coalition for facilitating this project. Aunty, specially for being a

constant source of encouragement long, long before this work was ever

started.

 

Sumana Narayanan, wildlife reporter of Down To Earth magazine, for hosting

the project on their website.

 

Joyce Poole, for her help in more ways than one.

 

Claire Palmer and Erin Van Voorhies for conducting follow up surveys in

India. It was nice interacting with them.

 

John Wedderburn for giving it due recognition on his website and defending

my zoo philosophy on the ZooChat Forum. Huge thank you John for highlighting

the zoo issue on AAPN on so many occasions.

 

Peter Dickinson and Michael Hutchins for providing me the other side of the

story.

 

PeTA and Azam for continuing the work in North East. PeTA's court case on

zoos remains a shining example of effective action.

 

I am also pleased to say that the zoo scenario is likely to improve in India

soon. Recently, the Central Zoo Authority held a meeting with wildlife

experts and zoo officials in Delhi in the presence of Mrs Maneka Gandhi. I

was invited but could not attend on account of an illness but am given to

understand that major initiatives are in stow. It is heartening to know that

we are at last making some progress on zoo animals in India and the

direction of our zoos is somewhat different from British and American zoos

with a stronger welfare focus.

 

Finally, I would like to thank my thesis supervisor, Richard Adamson, for

allowing me to work on this topic in the face of heavy opposition from some

other university officials. With him I always had stimulating and

enlightening discussions on every topic under the sun(occasionally on my

thesis as well.) If there are any others who I have missed out, your efforts

for zoo animals are much appreciated and thank you all the same.

 

I can say with a great deal of confidence that we are slowly moving into a

new era of captive animal welfare in India. The recent bear and

elephant developments bear witness to this. If we persist, we will have more

successes.

 

Best wishes and kind regards,