BMC will train zookeepers on animal handling skills

In an endeavour to improve animal handling skills, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will sensitise 50-odd zoo keepers at the Veer Jijamata Udyan or Byculla zoo.  

The training programme for zookeepers, to be conducted by a team of veterinary doctors and experts in wild life management, will commence from next week. 

“One remembers the depressing sights of caged animals, in a state of neglect by zookeepers. But all this will change,” said Anil Anjankar, director of Byculla zoo. “They (zookeepers) will be tuned to the needs of animals.”  

So, a tiger showing tuberculosis symptoms will be referred by the zookeeper to a veterinarian in the zoo. 

“This is the first time that we are conducting a six-month sensitisation programme for zookeepers. So far, they only gained information about animals through their experience. They did not have any detailed veterinary information. We will sensitise them to recognise immediate symptoms of diseases in animals. We also plan to send them to Pune and Ahmedabad to observe the working methods of zookeepers there,” said Anjankar. 

This way, the zookeepers will be tuned to animal conservation, their dietary habits, schedules, and cleaning of cages. “In the past, they waited for instructions for animal enrichment. For example, the natural instinct of sloth bears is to search for honey.

Now, zookeepers will be trained to keep tabs on their behavioural changes. When the natural instincts are fulfilled, animals remain healthy,” said Anjankar.