5/5 Kaushal Kumar R. 10 months ago on Google
The
CZA
was
formed
to
bring Indian zoos
up
to
international
standards.
Before
the
CZA
was
formed,
many
zoos
were
poorly
managed,
with
unsuitable
animal
enclosures
and
little
or
no breeding records
of animals,
which
caused inbreeding and hybridization (genetic
pollution,
as
in
one
case
where
an Asiatic
lion were
cross-bred
with
an
African lion).
The
Central
Zoo
Authority
has
been
constituted
under
the
section
38A
of
Wild
Life
(Protection)
Act
1972.
The
Authority
consists
of
a
Chairman,
ten
members
and
a
Member
Secretary.
The
main
objective
of
the
authority
is
to
complement
the
national
effort
in
conservation
of
wild
life.
Standards
and
norms
for
housing,
upkeep,
health
care
and
overall
management
of
animals
in
zoos
has
been
laid
down
under
the
Recognition
of
Zoo
Rules,
1992.
Every
zoo
in
the
country
is
required
to
obtain
recognition
from
the
Authority
for
its
operation.
The
Authority
evaluates
the
zoos
with
reference
to
the
parameters
prescribed
under
the
Rules
and
grants
recognition
accordingly.
Zoos
which
have
no
potential
to
come
up
to
the
prescribed
standards
and
norms
may
be
refused
recognition
and
asked
to
close
down.
Since
its
inception
in
1992,
the
Authority
has
evaluated
347
zoos,
out
of
which
164
have
been
recognised
and
183
refused
recognition.
Out
of
183
zoos
refused
recognition,
92
have
been
closed
down
and
their
animals
relocated
suitably.
Cases
of
the
remaining
91
non-recognised
zoos
are
currently
under
review.
The
Authority’s
role
is
more
of
a
facilitator
than
a
regulator.
It,
therefore,
provides
technical
and
financial
assistance
to
such
zoos
which
have
the
potential
to
attain
the
desired
standard
in
animal
management.
Only
such
captive
facilities
which
have
neither
the
managerial
skills
nor
the
requisite
resources
are
asked
to
close
down.
Apart
from
the
primary
function
of
grant
of
recognition
and
release
of
financial
assistance,
the
Central
Zoo
Authority
also
regulates
the
exchange
of
animals
of
endangered
category
Listed
under
Schedule-I
and
II
of
the
Wildlife
Protection
Act
among
zoos.
Exchange
of
animals
between
Indian
and
foreign
zoos
is
also
approved
by
the
Authority
before
the
requisite
clearances
under
EXIM
Policy
and
the
CITES
permits
are
issued
by
the
competent
authority.
The
Authority
also
coordinates
and
implements
programmes
on
capacity
building
of
zoo
personnel,
planned
breeding
programmes
and
ex-situ
research
including
biotechnological
intervention
for
conservation
of
species
for
complementing
in-situ
conservation
efforts
in
the
country.
Some
of
the
major
initiatives
undertaken
by
the
Authority
since
its
inception
include
establishment
of
a
laboratory
for
conservation
of
endangered
species
at
Hyderabad
for
carrying
out
research
in
biotechnology,
planned
breeding
of
red
panda
and
its
restocking
into
the
wild,
upgrading
diagnostic
facilities
for
disease
diagnosis
at
selected
veterinary
institutions
and
their
networking
with
zoos
on
regional
basis
for
better
health
care
of
animals.
