Editor’s Note
This report raises serious concerns about safety protocols at Delhi’s National Zoological Park, where construction work is allegedly proceeding within enclosures housing dangerous animals without their prior relocation—a direct violation of Central Zoo Authority guidelines. The situation underscores a critical lapse in duty of care that demands immediate scrutiny and corrective action.
Serious negligence regarding wildlife safety is being observed at the National Zoological Park (Zoo). The zoo administration is carrying out construction work in the enclosures of dangerous wildlife like tigers and elephants, while keeping their safety on the back burner.
The guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) clearly state that before starting any kind of construction or repair work in wildlife enclosures, the animals must be removed from there and relocated to another safe place.
However, these rules are being completely violated at the Delhi Zoo. Construction work is being carried out in the animals’ enclosures without relocating them to another place, and this is still ongoing.
The zoo director, Dr. Sanjit Kumar, said that construction work in the tiger enclosure is being done outside its cell (den) and arena. Work on electric fencing and a musth kraal is underway in the elephant enclosure.
However, a recent incident in the enclosure of the elephant Heera at the zoo raises questions about this claim.
Animal rights activists have condemned this negligence by the zoo, stating that ensuring compliance with rules is determined not just by statements, but by ground reality.
On May 30, the elephant Heera attacked its mahout at the zoo. This incident occurred at the same time when construction work was ongoing in its enclosure. This incident exposed the flouting of several different rules of the zoo at once.
First, Heera the elephant had an iron chain tied to its leg. However, as per CZA rules, no zoo can keep any wildlife tied with a chain.
Second, construction work was ongoing in the elephant’s enclosure, which is a violation of CZA rules. The zoo continued construction work in its enclosure without relocating the elephant to another place.
Experts believe that the commotion, noise, and unfamiliar activities caused by construction stress the animals, which often leads to them exhibiting aggressive behavior.
Third, an inexperienced staff member was assigned to care for a large animal like an elephant. The mahout that the elephant attacked had been working at the zoo on a contract for the past six months. However, five to ten years of experience is required for overseeing elephants.
Currently, 45 contract staff are deployed for wildlife supervision at the zoo. Out of these, at least 10-12 employees are those who have no experience working with wildlife.
Among these, three to four contract employees are new; they were hired on contract at the zoo just five to six months ago and have no prior experience working with wildlife.
Meanwhile, some staff members are those who previously worked in the zoo’s store or garden cleaning, and have now been assigned to supervise dangerous category wildlife.
