Following the death of Shakti, the five-year-old male hippopotamus, at Veermata Jijabai Udyan on April 24, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) has demanded that the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) conduct an immediate inspection of the zoo and an inquiry into the death.
Peta (India) chief functionary Anuradha Sawhney, in a letter dated April 27 written to BR Sharma, member-secretary, CZA, said that if the authority does not inspect the zoo, Peta will be “compelled” to approach the Bombay High Court (HC) “for appropriate directions”.
“The death of Shakti has once again highlighted the dismal conditions prevailing in the zoo and the apparent suffering of the animals incarcerated there,” Sawhney said.
Sawhney said that Peta had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the HC in 2004 about the miserable conditions of animals in the zoo. The HC, in its order dated July 18, 2005, had asked Bittu Sahgal, editor of Sanctuary magazine, to inspect the zoo.
It had also found the BMC, which looks after the zoo, violating the CZA norms in maintaining the zoo and had ordered the civic body to implement the CZA guidelines, which stipulated that old and unwell animals should be removed from display and sent to rescue centres and that no animal should remain single in the zoo.
“The BMC has not yet complied with the court’s orders,” Sawhney said. Many injured leopards and monkeys have been relocated, but a rhino, Shiva, is still single, she pointed out. The recent death only underlines the negligence of the zoo, the letter said.
“We want the CZA to immediately inspect the zoo, failing which we will be compelled to approach the Bombay High Court for appropriate directions,” Sawhney said.
BR Sharma, CZA member-secretary, claimed that he has not yet received the letter. “I don’t think the death of one hippopotamus calls for an inspection by us,” he said. “The BMC wants a makeover for the zoo. But, somehow, its plans have been delayed,” he said.
“CZA has laid out guidelines for maintaining animal enclosures. It is the duty of the city and state authorities to ensure that these guidelines are implemented,” Sharma said.
