Lok Sabha Question No. 696 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-07
Subject: Entry Fee for Wildlife Sanctuaries and Zoos
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: NIHAL CHAND CHAUHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.696

TO BE ANSWERED ON  07.02.2017

## Entry Fee for Wildlife Sanctuaries and Zoos

## 696. SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  review  the  entry  fee  for  wildlife sanctuaries and zoos;
- (b) if so, whether the Government intended to raise the entry fee;
- (c) whether any guidelines has been issued to the States for better maintenance of various wildlife sanctuaries and zoos in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  considering  development  of  a  wildlife  sanctuary  in Rajasthan in future and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) & (b) Management of the Wildlife Sanctuaries and zoos is the mandate of the concerned state governments/respective zoo operators and hence the decision of entry fee for wildlife sanctuaries and zoos is the prerogative of the concerned authorities. No direction has been issued from the Central Government to States to increase entry fee for zoos/wildlife sanctuaries.
- (c) The Ministry provides financial assistance to State/UT Governments   under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats' for better management of wildlife sanctuaries as per the guidelines of the scheme. With respect to zoos, the Central Zoo Authority has issued following guidelines for better maintenance of zoos:
- i. Guidelines for facilitating effective and scientific management of zoos in India.
- ii. Guidelines for establishment of new zoos.
- iii. Guidelines for exchange or transfer of animals between zoos.
- iv. Guidelines for marking of animals and birds.
- v. Guidelines on minimum dimension of enclosure of housing of animals of different species in zoos.
- vi. Guidelines  on  use  of  innovative  exhibit  design  and  barriers  design  for holding and display of animals and birds.
- vii. Guidelines  for  developing  mechanism  for  Mobilizing  Financial  Support for Supplementing Management of Zoos.
- viii. Guidelines for establishing safari parks in the existing zoos.
- ix. Guidelines for transport of captive wild animals.
- x. Guidelines for release of zoos animals into the wild.
- xi. Guidelines for management and maintenance of elephants in circuses.
- xii. Guidelines for utilization of volunteers in zoo management in India.
- xiii. Recommended  guidelines  during  stakeholders  meetings  on  'Elephants upkeep in zoos'.
- xiv. Procedure and process for acquiring animals from zoos abroad.

Besides, the Central Zoo  Authority  has  stipulated  standards/  norms  under Recognition  of  Zoo  Rules,  2009  for  development  and  planning,  housing  and animals enclosures, upkeep and healthcare, veterinary care and infrastructure etc. in the zoos for better management of captive wild animals.

- (d) Presently  there  is  no  proposal/report  from  the  Government  of  Rajasthan  for development wildlife sanctuary in Rajasthan in future.

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