Delhi zoo authorities started installing wire-fence on Wednesday, a day after a 22-year-old man was mauled to death by a white tiger. ( Source: Express photo by Amit Mehra )
A day after 22-year-old Maqsood was mauled to death by a white tiger, the Delhi zoo has started putting up a wire-fence along the entire stretch of the visitors’ point. The move came after the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) directed the Delhi zoo to install wire-fencing and alter its existing masterplan. This is bound to have nation-wide ramifications, officials said.
Also, this could go against CZA’s own guideline, which states that “every zoo shall provide appropriately designed and effective barriers at every animal display enclosure to regulate the movement of visitors in the zoo in a manner that facilitates the visitors in getting an unobstructed view of wild animals without reaching the vicinity of the animals”.
Despite the Delhi zoo’s claims that all CZA guidelines had been followed, officials remained tight-lipped about the absence of a hedge between the two barricades that had allowed Maqsood to climb over and approach the enclosure.
Also, the incident couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Delhi zoo, which was busy with the preparations to showcase its biodiversity and “visitor-oriented” conservation efforts at the prestigious World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) conference, scheduled to be held in Delhi from November 2-6.
“We were busy with the preparations for the conference. Roads were being re-laid and new signages were being put up. World-class facilities are also being introduced,” Delhi zoo curator Riaz Khan. Though there is no deadline for putting up the fence and other suggestions, the changes need to be completed before the conference, the official said.
The CZA’s directive, taken after a team from the Ministry of Environment and Forests visited the zoo, to install wire-fencing on the entire stretch of the visitors’ point will have national ramifications since CZA guidelines have to be followed in zoos across the country.
“The masterplan of the Delhi zoo was approved according to CZA guidelines, which is uniform across the country. The changes directed by the CZA in Delhi Zoo will now have to be included in CZA’s existing guidelines. Other zoos also need to change their plan as far as enclosures are concerned,” an official said.
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The prime contention over the new installation remains the “zoo experience” for visitors. Experts said the new changes could defy the guidelines as far as the “view of wildlife” is concerned. “These changes can alter the the ambient view of the wildlife. This will make a visitor’s experience to a zoo an unsatisfactory one. This could, in turn, reduce the number of visitors to a zoo,” an official said.
According to CZA guidelines, “Well-kept thick hedges with guard rails should be provided as buffers to prevent approach of visitors to the parapet and to camouflage the masonry. Chainlink mesh fixed below the guard-rail would prevent visitors from crossing the hedge and going closer to the parapet.”
As City Editor ( Delhi) at the Indian Express, Kaunain Sheriff leads city reporting with a sharp focus on accountability journalism, data-driven stories, and ground-level impact. As the National Health Editor he leads the newsroom’s in-depth coverage of pressing health issues.
He is the author of Johnson & Johnson Files: The Indian Secrets of a Global Giant, a definitive investigation into the accountability of one of the world’s most powerful pharmaceutical corporations.
Areas of Expertise
Investigative Reporting: Has deep expertise in investigative reporting spanning public health, regulatory affairs, drug safety, and the criminal justice system. His work sits at the intersection of governance, law, and accountability, with a particular focus on how regulatory failures, institutional lapses, and policy decisions affect citizens’ rights and safety.
Data Journalism: Has extensively on big data–driven investigations, including analyses of flagship government schemes and large datasets on criminal trials, uncovering systemic gaps.
Global Collaborations
Kaunain is a key contributor to major international journalistic projects:
The Implant Files: Collaborated with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) to expose global malpractices in the medical device industry.
Chinese Big-Data Investigation: Uncovered how a foreign data firm monitored thousands of prominent Indian institutions and individuals in real-time.
Awards & Recognition
His commitment to "Journalism of Courage" has been recognized with the industry's highest honors:
Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism
SOPA Award (Society of Publishers in Asia)
Red Ink Award (Mumbai Press Club)
Indian Express Excellence Awards (Triple recipient for investigations into the NSA abuse in UP, Vyapam scam, and the anti-Sikh riots).
Education: Studied Mechanical Engineering at Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Bangalore, before moving to Delhi to pursue his passion for journalism. His engineering training informs his analytical approach, enabling him to decode technical, legal, and data-heavy systems with precision.
Social media
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kaunain-sheriff-3a00ab99
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Delhi zoo authorities started installing wire-fence on Wednesday, a day after a 22-year-old man was mauled to death by a white tiger. ( Source: Express photo by Amit Mehra )
