Stop breeding animals in zoos: SC

NEW DELHI: Alarmed over overcrowding of zoos, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the authorities to stop breeding of animals till they comply with the required infrastructure.

"We direct that no zoo will permit any further breeding of animals in their respective custody," a Bench comprising of Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakker said.

The Bench, which had sought response from the Centre, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and various state governments asked them to ensure that an experienced curator, veterinarian, laboratory assistant and compounder are appointed in each zoo along with a full-fledged veterinary unit.

However, the court was not happy with the state governments as most of them had not responded to its notice issued last month and granted them eight weeks to comply with its order.

The PIL filed by an NGO, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), had alleged that the zoos were not adhering to prescribed limit of breeding of animals. It had sought a direction to limit the number of animals bred in the zoo.

The PIL had maintained that there were about 41,235 animals in 159 recognized zoos.

It had said the Centre had adopted and published the National Zoo Policy in 1998 and CZA had issued directions to all zoos on February 7, 1995 as to the number of prolific breeding species animals that can be kept in the various categories of zoos.