The Hindu : 'Parks should maintain records of animals'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 07, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

'Parks should maintain records of animals'

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI JAN. 6. A ten-day course in `Endangered Species and Zoo Management' for the Zoo Managers in the country was inaugurated today by the Chief Wildlife Warden, Sukhdev, at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP), Vandalur.

The Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI), P.R. Sinha, suggested that the zoological parks should maintain records of the birth date of animals, the date it was acquired, the approximate mortality time of the animal. Such a record would help in planning the breeding programme for the next five years, he said.

The CZAI was also ready to provide financial assistance to the Zoological Parks to buy computers to create and maintain a database on animal inventory.

The Zoo Director from Darjeeling, B.R. Sharma, wanted to know how to manage the excess population of some of the endangered Himalayan fauna such as Snow Leopard and Red Panda, as it could not be exchanged with all the zoos.

Mr Sinha said already in Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Uttranchal the work was on to set up zoological parks. The excess population could be sent to these new zoos.

Sharing his experience, the AAZP Director, P.C.Tyagi, said a few years ago, the first Southern Regional Zoo Directors' Conference was held, which led to exchange of information on various animals.

"Now, whenever we are not able to diagnose the illness of a particular animal, we check with the vets in Thiruvananthapuram or Mysore zoo on how to provide treatment".

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Officials yet to come to grips with safety issues

'Parks should maintain records of animals'

Youth held for playing prank

Two employees of advertisement hoardings company arrested