Beastly tales

His accusation rings true for the whole country. While lip service continues to be paid to protecting wildlife in India, the subject has clearly lost political support and is at the lowest rung of government priority. The Ministry of Environment and Forests MoEF is therefore unable to execute its mandate of protecting our wild animals, whether in zoos or in forests. An overhaul of this ministry8217;s functioning is long overdue. That, not a lynching party to hang some inconsequential zookeeper, is what we hope will emerge from the tragic Nandankanan incident.

The unnatural death of wild animals in captivity is sadly par for the course in India. A snow leopard transported from Srinagar to Darjeeling to clear the way for a golf course to be constructed by the Chief Minister in a National Park? died because it was left out in the rain for four days. Seven Asiatic lions have died in the Sangli zoo. Five kangaroos imported from Australia died in the Mumbai zoo some years ago. An elephant being sent overseas as a gift8217; to the Japanese government recently died. Two tigers also died in the controversial Borivali Tiger Safari Park soon after it was started. In Madhya Pradesh8217;s Madhav and Van Vihar National Parks captive tigers have died of a mystery disease8217;. In Pune, feral dogs killed dozens of captive blackbuck some years ago. The list is long, yet no public national register is kept of zoo deaths. Zoos have consequently joined circuses in being suspected of catering to the illegal wildlife trade.

This grim situation is mirrored in the wild. According to P.K. Sen, the Director of Project Tiger, 8220;We are probably losing one tiger per day because of poachers and forest loss.8221; We also know that thousands of peacocks and deer are poisoned each year to cater to the now banned export of tail feathers and antlers. And of course, the recent wildlife contraband seizures at Khaga and Ghaziabad only underscore the magnitude of the crisis. No effective action has been taken against the guilty. The killings continue. Much more than Nandankanan, this is India8217;s real wildlife tragedy.

Expectedly, the Ministry of Environment and Forests MoEF appointed a committee to enquire into the Nandankanan incident8217;. But P.R. Sinha, ho headed the team, clarified on July 8 that 8220;The expert committee is not here to conduct any probe but to ensure that measures be taken for better management of the zoo in future.8221; Zoo people and not NGOs were appointed to the committee. Unfortunately, therefore, little will change. And hopelessly in-bred tigers will continue to die in overcrowded Nandankannan as they have 10 every year since 1995!.

The real reason that zoos exist is to entertain humans. But they are justified on the grounds that they breed endangered species. Yet not one tiger has ever been reintroduced into the wild. It is also said that they perform a vital nature education function. But torture chambers which is what zoos in India are do not nature classrooms make. By this reasoning we may as well suggest that children visit the Tihar Jail to learn about crime!

So are we to do about our zoos?

Over the next ten years, we should convert every single Indian zoo into a botanical park-cum-nature interpretation centre, that would be the green lungs of our cities. Here children could be entertained and informed of the value and worth of nature through walking trails, talks, slides, film shows, dioramas. Some live animal exhibits including insectariums, reptile exhibits, butterfly parks and other small species exhibits could be part of the infrastructure.

But zoos as we know them remember Nandankanan claims to be India8217;s best, must be phased out by instituting a policy of 8220;no recruitment8221; so that animals that die are not replaced by 8220;fresh stocks8221;. The MoEF can do this if it is convinced that it is supported by public opinion.

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