The Union Environment Ministry has ordered a probe into an allegation that one of the jackals, who had escaped from the enclosure at the National Zoological Park in Delhi last November, was killed instead
of following required containment procedures.
According to the complaint by the National Zoo Workers Union submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on Monday, an independent inquiry has been sought into the “gross violations” of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and established protocol governing zoological parks.
They said that several jackals were spotted outside their enclosure on November 22 and one of them later entered Beat No. 4 and jumped into the enclosure of a Himalayan black bear. It claimed that instead of following lawful rescue and containment procedures, the ranger in charge allegedly devised a plan to kill the jackal “by burning it alive inside the bear’s burrow”.
The workers were then called and following lawful rescue and containment procedures, the ranger in charge allegedly devised a plan to kill the jackal “by burning it alive inside the bear’s burrow,” the complaint stated.
It added that the same workers were allegedly sent to the burrow two days later to retrieve the remains, which were “clandestinely disposed of” without any intimation to zoo veterinary authorities or a mandatory post-mortem examination.
The Indian Express quoted a staff member, who said they were aware of the events, claiming it was unclear whether the jackal died due to suffocation or burn injuries. “The range officer instructed staffers to send the jackal’s body directly to the incinerator,” the staff member alleged.
A team of MOEFCC officials visited the zoo on Tuesday.
The Indian Express quoted Dr Sanjeet Kumar, Director at the National Zoological Park rejecting any such incident and maintained that the number of jackals in the exhibit and holding areas continued to match official inventory records. As per the zoo’s annual inventory, as of March 21, it recorded a total of nine jackals: four male, two female and three unsexed individuals.
“One allegation has been received. The Joint Director has been asked to enquire into the allegation,” the Director said.
Meanwhile, Joint Director Nair Vishnuraj Narendran said: “As per the order received, I have been asked to charge the inquiry and will start the process once I am back (currently in Haldwani).”
