The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has directed authorities of Indore's Kamla Nehru Zoo to shift a pair of tigers to Van Vihar National Park here after it found that these felines were kept in a hyena enclosure.
CZA issued these directives in the wake of two incidents in which a tigress - Jamuna - had escaped from its enclosure in Kamla Nehru Zoo (Kamla Nehru Prani Sangrahalaya) twice on November 27 and December 12 respectively last year.
"It was found that authorities of the Kamla Nehru Zoo, Indore failed to house tigers in accordance with standards and dimensions prescribed by the CZA for an enclosure of the tiger," a CZA letter, dated January 10 said.
"Thus, (Kamla Nehru Zoo) has committed violation of provisions of Scheduled 4 (3) and 4 (5) of Rule 10 under Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009. Also it was found that the Zoo is housing tigers beyond the available housing facility and the tigress was kept in a hyena enclosure," the letter, a copy of which is available with PTI, added.
It said that in view of serious violations made by Kamla Nehru Zoo authorities endangering human as well as animal lives and gross negligence, the CZA has decided to immediately transfer a pair of tigers (one male, one female) from Kamla Nehru Zoo to Van Vihar National Park- Zoo, Bhopal.
CZA also told authorities to submit the compliance report after the shifting.
A copy of this letter was also sent to Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) (which runs Kamla Nehru Zoo) Van Vihar National Park's authorities and State Forest Department.
Tiger conservationists are however are demanding action against the Kamla Nehru Zoo's authorities.
"Strict action should be taken against the IMC commissioner and Zoo in-charge for the negligence of wildlife norms. Madhya Pradesh has become a dangerous place for free range as well as captive tigers," a Bhopal based tiger conservationist Ajay Dubey told PTI.
We are relieved that the tigress - Jamuna - did not harm visitors even after her escape otherwise carelessness of Zoo authorities would have led to a big incident, he said.
Dubey said that Jamuna was kept in a hyena enclosure.
"A hyena weighs at 40 kilograms while a tigress' weight is over 200 kilograms. How can authorities keep a tigress in cage made for a hyena, despite specific requirements," he asked.
On the other hand, in-charge of Kamla Nehru Zoo, Dr
Uttam Yadav said they are preparing to shift the tigers as per CZA order.
"CZA has told us to shift the pair of a tiger and a tigress. We have now urged the CZA to allow us shifting two tigresses in place of a pair," Yadav told
