Ailing zoos

Published : Jul 22, 2000 00:00 IST

Long-term solutions need to be found for the problems afflicting Indian zoos in order to ensure their better management and administration.

M. KAMAL NAIDU

THE death of tigers at Nandankanan has raised eyebrows everywhere. Several theories are afloat, and adverse comments are heard on the treatment approach and the tardiness in taking official action. The incident has certainly underscored the need to evolv e an overall perspective on zoos and to find long-term solutions to their problems. Rather than searching for scapegoats, the inquiry into the Nandankanan incident should be an eyeopener on appropriate zoo management techniques.

There has been no dearth of expertise at Nandankanan. One of the best and most devoted veterinarians in the country, Dr. L.N. Acharyjo, who has a long track record and has been with various zoos, is on the panel of veterinary consultants at Nandankanan. The Chief Wildlife Warden, who was the Zoo Director for several years, oversees its operations. That these deaths occurred in spite of such wealth of in-house experience calls for some introspection.

One major cause of the tragedy is the over-population of tigers at the zoo. Fifty-six animals were confined to a limited space, especially after the 1999 cyclone. Such a situation is conducive to the building up of the disease pathogen potentiality of a site. Parasites tend to multiply in a zoo because the same species of animals are kept continuously in a limited space. This results in constant re-infection to a host animal, and the animals develop some resistance. The pathogens develop immunity to the antibiotics, antiseptics and preventive medicines given routinely. Pathogens are following the same path as the housefly and the mosquito, which have developed resistance to traditional disinfectants, antiseptics and antibiotics. Just as drug reaction a nd efficacy tests are conducted in human beings, there is a need to conduct such procedures regularly on animals, especially in zoos. This is an essential factor that is often overlooked.

A similar calamity struck in the Mysore zoo a decade ago but was contained rapidly, partly because of the limited tiger population and the low level of congestion compared to Nandankanan. It is necessary to stock the latest drugs, such as Tranquin and An ticide, though they are expensive and not easily available at the major regional zoos, with the help of the Zoo Authority of India (ZAI), for use in emergencies and as a precaution against epidemics. Prophylactic practices are observed in their breach ra ther than as a routine. It is not known how meticulously this was observed at Nandankanan.

The ZAI has been discouraging a high density of animals. It has laid down floor space requirements for different animals according to their size and behaviour. Unfortunately, in their eagerness to have the monopoly of a species, zoo directors become poss essive and do not abide by the policy of sharing. This results in such tragedies and the loss of valuable resources. In 1988, at a Zoo Directors' Conference in Thiruvananthapuram, I had emphasised the need to share animals and disperse them as widely as possible in the larger interest. I had also emphasised the need to control the population to manageable levels with due regard to available space and thus avoid congestion.

Both these factors were ignored at Nandankanan. White tigers were priced so high that there were no takers. This was partly the reason for the build-up of the white tiger population. Their pathogen levels go up as the problems of managing a large populat ion stretch the keepers' capacity to observe and care for the animals efficiently.

Secondly, zoo keepers in India are not adequately sensitised to the hygiene standards required for zoo animals. In a number of cases, they take up employment in zoos as a source of livelihood and rarely out of a genuine love for animals. The situation in the zoos in Western countries is different. Young persons there work in zoos as volunteers long before they are absorbed into the workforce. They work in zoos because of their love for a particular species or for animals in general. Job satisfaction mak es a lot of difference in animal care and overall zoo management. In India, zoo directors may not even have touched an animal in their charge, and postings happen as a matter of routine and not with consent. How could we expect them to pass on the messag e down the line of the staff working in the animal sections to develop any empathy for the animals in their charge?

Thirdly, inbreeding among zoo animals is a factor that brings down resistance and increases the susceptibility to disease. Whatever precautions are taken to avoid inbreeding, the animal population is never adequate to give a wide genetic base in a zoo. I n fact, animals need to be translocated from zoos on a rotational basis. The ZAI should make this compulsory for all zoos and provide adequate funds for this. The zoo authorities need to exercise a certain restraint in the breeding activity of the animal s in order to restrict their numbers rather than cry themselves hoarse about fund inadequacies to maintain the surplus population, as has been the case with Nandankanan.

Fourthly, every veterinary college should include a course in wildlife medicine. All veterinarians should be exposed to wild animals as part of their internship. Such a move will help veterinarians become aware of the latest drugs and treatment and permi t cross-fertilisation of information when needed. The practice at the Hyderabad and Delhi zoos has been to encourage veterinarians to move in the field and see animals as part of a daily routine rather than rely solely on animal keepers, who may be exper ienced but not sensitive to the change in the behaviour and moods of animals with the onset of disease.

Lastly, the public should not get agitated about some rare occurrence of deaths, such as those of Nandankanan. Wilful negligence is rare. After all, diseases and death are not yet fully under control even in the case of humans, in spite of the advances i n medicine. Therefore, despite the constraints in zoo management, events occur for nobody's fault, because of the system. In such a situation, giving a helping hand is what is needed.

M. Kamal Naidu, who retired from the Indian Forest Service, is now the Director of the Andhra Pradesh chapter of the World Wide Fund for Nature, India.

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