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This is an archive article published on October 1, 2014

Tiger and bird enclosures falling apart at Delhi zoo

The zoo had planned to install three glass façades at enclosure No. 10 which houses white tiger Malar.

A week after a youth was mauled to death by a white tiger, things are literally falling apart at the Delhi zoo, as far as security arrangements at tiger enclosures are concerned. On Tuesday, the glass facade, that was supposed to be installed in one of the tiger enclosures, was found “mysteriously shattered”. Zoo officials claimed that it was a “serious mischief” and will identify the perpetrators.

The Delhi Zoo is currently undergoing a design overhaul in the run-up to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) conference, scheduled to take place in November.

The zoo had planned to install three glass façades at enclosure No. 10 which houses white tiger Malar.

According to a zoo official, the revamp of enclosure 10 had begun a year ago and glass facades were installed in three viewing points. However, one of them got damaged and the zoo was planning to replace the damaged glass.

“Today, we were supposed to replace the damaged glass. But this morning, we found the new glass shattered,” a zoo official said.

“This has made us introspect about the quality of glass procured. Had the glass been installed and it shattered while visitors were around then it would have had far worse consequences,” a senior zoo official said.

When asked about standards adopted by the zoo while procuring such material, a zoo official said they did not have any “particular norms” regarding the matter.

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The glass façades of four bird enclosures – silver pheasant, golden pheasant, military macaw and blue and yellow macaw – have been damaged, but are yet to be replaced.

“We have send proposals to replace them. But we do not know when that will happen,” the official said. Zoo curator Riaz Khan said “things should be in place” before Delhi showcases its zoo to the world during the WAZA conference.

Meanwhile, seven-year-old Vijay, who had attacked and killed 22-year-old Maqsood, was back in enclosure No. 8 on Tuesday morning.

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 X ( fromerly Twitter): @kaunain_s ... Read More

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