Lok Sabha Question No. 720 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Death of Animals in Zoos
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Chandra Prakash Joshi, Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas, Manoj Kumar Tiwari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 720 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021.

## Death of Animals in Zoos

## 720. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

SHRI  RAMDAS C. TADAS:

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of thedeath of animals in various zoos throughout the countryevery year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the totalnumber of animal deaths reported in zoos during the lastthree years, State/UT-wise;
- (c) the main reasons for death of animals in thezoos; and
- (d) the various efforts made by the Government tobring down the mortality rate of animals?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a) and (b) Yes,  Sir.  As  per  the  information  received  from  the  Central  Zoo  Authority,  the details  of  animal  deaths  reported  in  various  zoos  during  the  last  three  years, State/UT-wise is at Annexure-1.
- (c) and (d)

As informed by the Central Zoo Authority, the main reasons reported for death of animals  in  zoos  include  old  age,  diseases  and  infighting.  The  Central  Zoo Authority has taken following steps for better upkeep and health care of animals housed in zoos across the country and to bring down mortality in particular:

- (i) The Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009 has been framed by Government of  India  for  ensuring  better  health,  upkeep  and  veterinary  care  of captive animals.
- (ii) An  advisory  has  been  issued  to  all  States/UTs  to  constitute  a  Health Advisory  Committee  to  advise  the  zoo  operators  in  the  State/UT  on Animal  Health  care  related  matters  and  with  a  mandate  to  monitor compliance with the Rules regarding upkeep and health care of animals.
- (iii) The Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly has been designated as National Referral Centre for extending necessary help to zoos in the country for health care and veterinary care of the captive animals.
- (iv) The Central Zoo Authority regularly evaluates zoos recognized under Section  38-H  of  the  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972  and  directs  the zoos to construct enclosures for animals to protect from harsh climatic conditions.

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a)  AND (b) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 720  REGARDING 'DEATH OF ANIMALS IN ZOOS' RAISED BY SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI, SHRI  RAMDAS. C. TADAS  AND SHRI MANOJ TIWARI, DUE FOR REPLY ON 5 th  FEBRUARY 2021

***

## Total number of animal deaths as reported by zoos during the last three years, State/ UT-Wise

(

## as informed by Central Zoo Authority)

|       |                          | Year      | Year      | Year      |
|-------|--------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| S.No. | StateName                | 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 |
| 1.    | Andaman &Nicobar Islands | 10        | 6         | 23        |
| 2.    | Andhra Pradesh           | 82        | 46        | 63        |
| 3.    | Arunachal Pradesh        | 7         | 12        | 9         |
| 4.    | Assam                    | 81        | 69        | 77        |
| 5.    | Bihar                    | 65        | 45        | 52        |
| 6.    | Chhattisgarh             | 37        | 29        | 45        |
| 7.    | Dadra &Nagar Haveli      | 0         | 1         | 1         |
| 8.    | Delhi                    | 111       | 196       | 190       |
| 9.    | Goa                      | 6         | 9         | 5         |
| 10.   | Gujarat                  | 366       | 362       | 167       |
| 11.   | Haryana                  | 66        | 60        | 42        |
| 12.   | Himachal Pradesh         | 30        | 29        | 13        |
| 13.   | Jammu &Kashmir           | 12        | 3         | 0         |
| 14.   | Jharkhand                | 130       | 112       | 187       |
| 15.   | Karnataka                | 684       | 795       | 315       |
| 16.   | Kerala                   | 189       | 206       | 98        |
| 17.   | Madhya Pradesh           | 36        | 68        | 6         |
| 18.   | Maharashtra              | 221       | 242       | 339       |
| 19.   | Manipur                  | 14        | 14        | 17        |
| 20.   | Meghalaya                | 10        | 17        | 3         |
| 21.   | Mizoram                  | 5         | 18        | 16        |
| 22.   | Nagaland                 | 15        | 68        | 35        |
| 23.   | Odisha                   | 125       | 96        | 129       |
| 24.   | Punjab                   | 85        | 66        | 55        |
| 25.   | Rajasthan                | 49        | 103       | 150       |
| 26.   | Sikkim                   | 10        | 5         | 6         |
| 27.   | Tamil Nadu               | 167       | 109       | 170       |
| 28.   | Telangana                | 153       | 93        | 60        |
| 29.   | Tripura                  | 16        | 17        | 19        |
| 30.   | Uttar Pradesh            | 129       | 102       | 33        |
| 31.   | Uttarakhand              | 26        | 22        | 12        |
| 32.   | West Bengal              | 333       | 189       | 197       |
|       | Grand Total              | 3270      | 3209      | 2534      |