National parks best place for animals
As a kid, I used to be eager to watch the animals. But after looking at the conditions of zoo animals and their health, I feel bad. Even the visitors were not nice to them and caretakers weren’t stopping them from teasing. The order of CZA isin favour of elephants. Elephants are an endangered animal and also big in size. The zoo or circus authorities cannot provide the best habitat for elephants. If we put them in a sanctuary then the population will also increase. Even for the visitors, visiting a sanctuary will be a learning experience.
—Mansi Jhaveri
I’m against use of animals in circus
Considering the current scenario, nature park sanctuaries are the right place for animals. The CZA should look for the betterment of all animals, especially the ones vulnerable to extinction and those which need special care and habitat to survive. It is sad to see animals like monkeys are not valued and being used for entertainment purposes around the city. Also elephants are a part of our Indian culture and are considered sacred because of their place in mythology. This way, children will never understand their importance. A zoo and circus are seen as recreational pastimes for kids where they get to see animals being asked to perform stunts. There they don’t learn about the importance of animals to our environment and wildlife, nor do they understand the role they play in maintaining ecological balance.
—Deesha Kriplani
Zoos are vital for educating kids
The CZA order seems in favour of elephants. But the authorities seem to be taking a shortcut to silence the media and the animal activists. It would be appreciable if they improve the way caretakers keep the elephants in the zoo. There are others animals which are not in a good condition. As media has highlighted the pathetic situation of elephants, they are only shifting them. Other animals and birds too need natural environment. Zoo is a good medium where children get attracted towards animals and are educated about many things.
—Pinky Sejpal
Kids can learn about wildlife via TV
It is a good decision that all the elephants will be freed from the zoo which was like a cage for them. But not only elephants or endangered creatures, all the animals should be freed from the zoo. The zoo cannot be compared to the national parks for any animals or birds. If the children need to learn about the wildlife, then there are many other options available today. For instance there are numerous TV channels. Moreover animals like monkey, snakes, bird seller also needed to be freed from people who use it for easy money to entertain pedestrians. To have a better look at the animals, I think it would be best to visit a wildlife sanctuary as we get to see them in their natural habitat.
—Bhavin
Expert view
Conditions at zoos need to improve
It is a relief to know that the Central Zoo Authority has ordered to shift all the elephants to national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves at the earliest. But I will be glad if they implement the order fast.
I’m not against keeping elephants or other animals in the zoo, if the authority treats animals with compassion and provides a natural habitat for them. But the condition in which the authority keeps the zoo and recruits the caretakers is not at all appreciable.
How can you expect that a creature will be cared or looked after if the person is not an animal lover? It is a fact that most of the employees in the zoo or in a circus don’t have any awareness regarding the treatment of animals and what measures are to be taken at the time when animals are facing any trouble. People will be shocked to know that there is no veterinary doctor present during the various circus shows.
An elephant’s problems don’t end here. Many of them can be easily spotted in the city. They are used for begging by their mahout even when this is actually prohibited. We need to care for the animals in our surrounding environment too.
—Sunish Subramanian Kunju, founder & secretary, PAWS, Mumbai
Dens don’t suffice for any creature
The Central Zoo Authority has taken the right decision to move the elephants to their natural habitat. Why just elephants, looking at the pathetic condition of the zoo, all the animals need to be moved to a better location. There is no recreation for monkeys apart from a few tyres. A small den isn’t enough for a lion, space is the main need for animals. It is important to understand the psyche of the animals.
I saw the hyenas in the zoo that seem totally bored. Such animals are supposed to be in a clan, but here the hyena was totally alone with nothing to do. Nature parks would offer them 8,000 arches whereas here the animals are restricted to an area as small as a matchbox. How will the animals thrive or reproduce in the middle of noisy and polluted surroundings? The Aarey precincts is a better option as it is pollution free. We certainly cannot compromise on the animal habitat.
There is a dearth of basic medical facilities. There are no medical experts present at the zoo and they don’t have knowledge regarding the animal’s welfare. Medical facilities and maintenance is in dire need of improvement. One needs to feel good while entering a zoo, but here the cages stink badly.
The zoo authorities need to have qualified veterinarians to understand the psyche of animals. It is sad that the government is not worried about losing its wildlife. In Australia, there are zoos where people are allowed to pose with animals and they get revenue out of this, but here the animals themselves look as if they are in a sad state. If money is a problem for them why not have privatisation and hand it over to a responsible corporate firm.
—Deepa Katyal Engineer, veterinarian and trustee of People for Animals (PFA)
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