Latest news with #DelhiZoo
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Environment Minister refutes claim of Delhi Zoo ‘privatisation'
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Saturday (June 7, 2025) rebutted allegations by Congress leader and party spokesperson Jairam Ramesh that the National Zoological Park in Delhi was on a path to 'privatisation'. Mr. Ramesh, in a post on social media, was responding to a media report that cited an unnamed official in the Environment Ministry, stating that a knowledge-sharing agreement was being negotiated between the Delhi Zoo and the Reliance Industries-run Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC), which operates the Vantara facility in Jamnagar, Gujarat. In a statement issued via social media platform X, Mr. Yadav said, 'Some people have made it a habit to create doubts in the mind of the public at every instance. Zoological parks enter into collaborative MoUs with other zoos, universities and scientific institutions for enhancement of conservation efforts, scientific research, education and capacity building, resource sharing and animal welfare, etc.' He clarified that the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), the regulatory body for zoos in the country, routinely enters into such partnerships, and that the MoU with GZRRC had originally been signed in January 2021. 'This MoU is focused on exchange of animals, capacity building of animal keepers, technical exchanges on scientific management of animals and sharing knowledge on conservation breeding and education. GZRRC has developed state-of-the-art facilities and services in animal health and welfare, world-class zoo designing, rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals and habitat enrichment,' Mr. Yadav said. He added that a 'revised' MoU was being considered to deepen collaboration in areas such as wildlife conservation, animal rescue and rehabilitation, veterinary care, zoo planning, enclosure design, conservation education, and capacity building. 'Key areas of cooperation include support for veterinary care and allied services, exchange of best practices in captive management of endangered species, and technical assistance in zoo planning, enclosure design, enrichment, visitor engagement, and staff training. It also includes knowledge-sharing initiatives, staff exchange, capacity building, conservation education, and potential animal exchanges,' Mr. Yadav noted. He said the Delhi Zoo had entered into similar collaborations in the past as part of its modernisation initiatives focused on improving animal welfare and enhancing visitor experience. Mr. Ramesh, however, had questioned the manner in which the proposed agreement was being pursued, alleging that it was being done in a 'hush-hush' fashion. 'Zoos, national parks, tiger and other reserves, and sanctuaries are all public services and must never be privatised in any form,' he said.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav rejects Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's charge of Delhi Zoo privatisation
NEW DELHI: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Saturday dismissed Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's criticism regarding the Delhi Zoo's proposed agreement with the Reliance Group's Gujarat-based wildlife facility, saying such collaborations are routine and aimed at improving animal care and management practices. "Some people have made it a habit to create doubts in the mind of the public at every instance," Yadav said on X in response to Ramesh's remarks. He clarified that the National Zoological Park (NZP), also known as the Delhi Zoo, had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Greens Zoological, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat, in January 2021. The centre is managed by the Reliance Foundation under the Vantara initiative. "The proposed MoU aims to foster collaboration in wildlife conservation, rescue, rehabilitation, animal health and welfare," Yadav said, adding that key areas of cooperation include veterinary care, exchange of best practices, technical assistance in zoo planning and training of staff.
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Delhi Zoo to sign MoU with Vantara, Congress raises privatisation fears
Delhi's National Zoological Park (NZP) is preparing to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Reliance's Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) next week, as part of a knowledge-sharing partnership. The GZRRC also operates Reliance's Vantara animal rehabilitation centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The NZP is the only zoo run by the central government in India. Agreement focuses on training, veterinary, and exchange According to a report by The Print, quoting a senior official from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the agreement will be signed between the Delhi NZP, GZRRC, and the Gujarat government. Key provisions include: Training and workshops for Delhi Zoo staff Exchange of best practices between Delhi Zoo and GZRRC Veterinary support from GZRRC, especially for large animals Modernisation support for Delhi Zoo The official clarified that the MoU does not involve a transfer of zoo management. Delhi Zoo Director Sanjeet Kumar confirmed the same, stating that no management handover is being considered. 'A team of 7 members from Vantara visited the Zoo on Saturday and Sunday and were taken around the facilities. The MoU has been drafted, and a proposal has been sent to all parties. It hasn't been signed yet,' said Kumar. He added that the agreement would also enable animal transfers between the two institutions. 'Vantara has world-class veterinarians and facilities, and there's a lot we can learn from them. The MoU will help advance our partnership,' Kumar said. Congress raises privatisation concerns The Congress party criticised the move, questioning whether it marks the first step towards privatising the Delhi Zoo. 'Is this the first step towards handing over the zoo to a private enterprise?' asked Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh in a post on X. "While the Govt claims that this is not a management transfer, its past record does not inspire confidence," he added, alleging that the agreement is being signed in a 'hush-hush manner'. Delhi Zoo under scrutiny, Vantara's growing role The MoU comes months after the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) suspended the Delhi Zoo's membership over alleged mistreatment of Shankar, an African elephant reportedly kept in chains. Vantara is one of the world's largest wildlife rescue centres, housing over 150,000 animals from more than 2,000 species. While it is lauded for its scale and infrastructure, critics have flagged concerns over a lack of transparency and the possible privatisation of wildlife conservation. Animal rights groups have also raised questions over the relocation of wild animals from public zoos to the privately managed facility in Jamnagar.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
A roar of joy: Delhi zoo welcomes first lion cubs in 16 years
New Delhi: Delhi Zoo is celebrating a rare and joyous occasion as five-year-old Asiatic lioness Mahagauri has given birth to a litter of four cubs. The zoo is closely monitoring her through round-the-clock CCTV surveillance, as the next 24 hours are critical for the first-time mother and her newborns. So far, the mother — Mahagauri—has been seen caring for her cubs, offering a hopeful sign for the zoo. Zoo director Sanjeet Kumar confirmed that Mahagauri and her cubs are being carefully watched. "Early morning on Sunday, the five-year-old Asiatic lioness Mahagauri delivered four cubs. The next 24 hours are crucial, and she is currently taking good care of them," he said. The lioness and her mate were brought to the Delhi Zoo in 2021 from Junagarh. "The last successful lion breeding at the zoo occurred in May 2009, when the litter consisted of two cubs," Kumar added. He further explained that the cubs will remain with their mother for now, with plans for veterinary checks in the future depending on her behaviour. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Among the recent big cat births at the zoo, two royal Bengal tiger cubs were born in May 2023 to tigress Siddhi. While the litter was five cubs, three were stillborn, and only two survived. In Aug 2022, three white tiger cubs were also born at the zoo, among which one died four months later. This successful lion birth marks a hopeful moment for the Delhi Zoo, which had recently faced controversies surrounding the frequent deaths of animals. April saw the loss of three animals, including a Thamin deer, a Gaur calf, and an Albino blackbuck.
