South Asian Edition

Texts:Lothar Philips, Cologne ZooPeter Dollinger, WAZA Executive OfficeSally Walker, ZOO and SAZARCSanjay Molur, ZOO and WILD

Translation:Doris Linzmeier, Cologne Zoo

Editors:Peter Dollinger, WAZA Executive Officeemail: secretariat@waza.org ; Web: ww.waza.orgSally Walker, Zoo Outreach Organisation, Administrative Office of SAZARC.email : zoocrew@vsnl.net Web : www.zooreach.org

Print: dpv printers, Coimbatore, India (5000 copies)

WAZA (2006): Understanding Animals and Protecting Them – About the World Zoo and AquariumConservation Strategy (document revised for distribution in South Asia).ZOO (2006) : Buildling a Future for Wildlife -- a booklet about World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy. to helpzoos and zoo visitors understand animals and protect them in South Asia

ISBN 81-88722-15-4

Sponsors: ZOO and SAZARC are very grateful to the institutions listed below for assistance inreprinting the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy as well as this summarydocument for distribution in South Asia. If you are interested in the full document contact us atzoocrew@vsnl.net or see our website www.zooreach.org for a soft copy in PDF.

Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens, Chester Zoo, North Carolina Zoological Society, EAZA and Zoo Köln

Indian wild ass or Khur (Equushemionus khur). Drawing byArnab Roy for Z.O.O.

Cover photo:Zoo bred Przewalski’s maresbeing released to Gobi N.P. in2004. Photo by Christian Walzer,International Takhi Group

Long term thinking and planning

Less than 100 years after its discovery by Europeans in the year 1877, the Przewalski’s horse –called takhi by the local people - became extinct even in its last retreat in the Dsungarian Gobi insouthwest Mongolia. Fortunately a small population survived in zoos. This zoo stock goes backto only 13 founder animals imported by the German animal dealer Carl Hagenbeck and theRussian landowner Baron Falz-Fein. Thanks to an International Studbook, kept under theauspices of WAZA by Prague Zoo, the ex situ population of the Przewalski’s horse hasdramatically increased and comprises now some 1500 animals.In 1990 the Germany-basedChristian Oswald Foundation initiated a reintroduction project in the Gobi B. N.P., strictlyProtected Area of Mongolia. In 1999, the International Takhi Group was established to continueand expand on the basis of the original project. From 1992 to 2004, no less than 87 takhis bredby 20 different institutions in 8 countries were returned to the Gobi B. N.P., In spite of havingbeen bred over several generations in zoos, the takhis adapted readily to the conditions in thewild and the population is growing. Currently several research projects are being undertakenand more releases are planned. With a view to promoting the project it received the WAZA brandin 2003. (WAZA Project 03002)South Asia has its own wild horse, which is the Indian wild ass orKhur (Equus hemionus khur). It is categorised as Endangered using IUCN Red List criteria.Asian wild asses were abundant thousands of years ago and extended as far as WestGermany, but today their distriution is much reduced. All other populations number fewer than100, including the Indian wild ass which used to occur throughout north-west India, south-westPakistan and Afghanistan. Today the Indian wild ass is restricted to a small area of Gujarat,India in a very small population inundated by threats of hunting, human interference, habitatdestruction, disease, drought, possible inbreeding, and local domestic animals. It is extinct inPakistan and legally protected in India. There is no coordinated management programme forIndian wild ass in S. Asian Zoos so captive breeding will not save this species...unless ...

Member of

WORLD ASSOCIATION

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Why Develop a New Zoo Strategy?

The first World Zoo ConservationStrategy published in 1993 wascharacterised by great hope. It ap-peared to be a time of fundamentalchanges – the days of Rio, the begin-ning of the Convention on BiologicalDiversity and IUCN’s conservationstrategy. Sustainable developmentseemed to be initiated and the idea thatzoos merely needed to rescue animalsinto a better future was regarded assufficient. This hope has not beenfulfilled yet, since the global situationhas not improved. Environmentalthreats still increase and are accompa-nied by a decline of biological diversity.The last 10 years have been character-ized by climatic changes,overexploitation of natural resources,negative impact of invasive species andextensive destruction of the environ-ment.

These problems are based on popula-tion explosion. Meeting requirements ofan increasing human population leadsto limitations in natural resources whichensure the survival of non-humanspecies. But the worldwide discussionis primarily focussed on political andeconomic conflicts, droughts, famineand migration rather than on the majororigin of our problems – namely over-exploitation of natural resources.

The future outlook is not totally negative.National biodiversity strategies andbiodiversity action plans have beendeveloped and environmental regula-tions strengthened. All the countries ofSouth Asia have signed the CBD andare working on their national biodiversitystrategies. Zoos and aquariumsregionally as well as globally have alsobecome more progressive and supportconservation activities successfully.

Many people are uncertain as towhether or not they should support zoosand aquariums. They ask themselves:Why do zoos and aquariums exist?What is their unifying philosophy andpurpose? What are the reasons thatjustify their existence? “Building aFuture for Wildlife”, the World Zoo andAquarium Conservation Strategypublished by WAZA in May 2005 givesanswers to these questions.

The 1993 World Zoo ConservationStrategy left out aquariums, an oversightwhich has been addressed in thecurrent document. In the early 90’sversion, aquariums were not the onlyoversight. At that time, manyorganisations, institutions and individu-als were overlooked in the writing andeven the vetting of the document. In theinstance of the current document,participation was truly global withexcellent representation from almostever country and certainly every region.Even NGOs and non-zoo individualswere consulted on various issues. Thevexed issue of non-WAZA members wasdecided in favour of inclusiveness andthe various issues pertaining to zoosrequiring help were considered.Partnerships between institutions andindividuals have been given greatimportance in this new strategy.

In the end, Zoos and aquariums mustfocus on conservation, for only theyand botanic gardens can operateacross the whole spectrum of conserva-tion activities, from ex situ breeding ofthreatened species, research, publiceducation, training, and influencing andadvocacy, through to in situ support ofspecies, populations and their habitats.Today attempts have been made to

concentrate ou limited financialresources for conservation on areas ofhigh biodiversity. It is necessary toencourage city dwellers in developedcountries who use the products ofnatural resources as well as the localcommunities living in regions whichprovide them to participate in conserva-tion programs in order to optimize thechances of success. Without sustain-able use of our resources by everyonein every country, culture and community,improvement will not be achieved.

Zoos and aquariums must becomeconservationists, teachers, scientistsand form alliances to achieve a change.They must become part of the conserva-tion movement. Zoos and aquariums ofthe world attract about 600 millionvisitors per year. This resource can playan important role in raising funds forconservation actions.

The new conservation strategy aims atall well-meaning zoos and aquariums,and not only the members of the WorldAssociation of Zoos and Aquariums. Itis past time for all well-meaning zoosand aquariums to take action for con-servation and responsibility for all zoos.

Entrance to 1200 acre Arignar Anna Zoo, Chennai, India (1985). A new modern zoowhich replaced the old congested Madras People’s Park (1855). Photo by S. Walker.

Why a New Zoo Strategy?

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From Menageries to Conservation Centres in South AsiaBarrackporeMenageriefounded byLord ArthurWellesley,GovernorGeneral ofIndia circa1801 for thevery firstzoo andbiodiversityproject of theIndian sub-continent.Artist Chas.D’Oly, 1920,India OfficeLibrary.

South Asia (also known as the Indiansub-continent) is a region whichabounds with history of animalcollections and “firsts in the world”.Many of the very early collections wereprivate or semi-private menageries ofemperors, kings, governors, wealthycitizens, monks, colonials, and so on.When the word “zoo” was coined, itrapidly made its way to South Asia andseemed itself to encourage collectionsof animals for public viewing – forrecreation, educa-tion, science,taxonomic research…but not yet forconservation !

The combination of ancient civilisationsand religions replete with respect for alllife has stocked South Asia with toomany examples of man’s relationshipwith captive animals even to name here.In prehistoric times, rishi’s kept deerand doves around their ashramas andMogul emperors kept wild animals forwork and war as well as pride andpleasure. Animal welfare homes, thenknown as pinjarapoles, for homelesswild and domestic animals (eveninsects) date back to 5th century B.C.Wild animals were kept for combat,intellectual pleasure and scientificinquiry by maharajas, nawabs and otherroyalty. These predated zoos as suchbut surely paved the way as many ofthem allowed the public in their parksand even to their arranged fights. Thesecollections in some instances weretransformed into zoos, or sent to zooswhich had sprung up in England and inEuropean countries.

Jahangir, Mughal Emperor of India,1605-1627, kept wild animals andplants and his amazingly scientificdescriptions and paintings of flora and

fauna survive, including perhaps thefirst rendition of a Dodo from life and apainting of a zebra only after it had beenwashed to see if the stripes weregenuine !

Raja Saraboji, a raja from Tanjore,learned the art of scientific observationfrom his German tutor and amazinglyastute descriptions and natural historydrawings of wild animals in his care inthe early part of the 19th century.

South Asia’s first truly public zoo wasBarrackpore Park which was outfittedwith captive animals first from GovernorGeneral of India Lord Arthur Wellesley’sprivate collection and subsequentlyfrom Divisional Commissioners andCollectors from all provinces answeringto a demand from Wellesley himself foranimals to be described and drawn tocomplete an inventory of faunal wealthof the subcontinent. The Indian NaturalHistory Project, as it was called, wasprobably the world’s first biodiversityinventory with first descriptions anddrawings of taxa from the Himalaya toKanyakumari. This project, begun in1801, survived as a zoo seen abovepermitting visitors both colonial andnative and endured till 1877 when thelast of its animals were given toCalcutta Zoo.

Also in Calcutta, Rajah Rajendro Mullickfounded “another first” zoo in 1854,beating the old Madras People’s Parkby a scant year. Should Madrasis feelbad about that, there is another claim tofame in their fair city in that the MadrasGovernment Central Museum, foundedin 1851, kept live animals in theirnatural history section which its founder,one Dr. Edward Balfour, utilised in what

is clearly the first zoo visitors’ study inthe world. Balfour kept careful recordsof attendance. Balfour wiselyconcluded, judging from the rise invisitation when he added the liveanimals, and fall when he removedthem, and again a rise when hereturned them, that a “living collection”was a definite attraction for the public.

Calcutta Zoo (1875) was not the first zooin India but was the first in the world toproduce asystematic andscientific manualof zoo manage-ment in 1892,which was hailedby British NatureMagazine andcited as the “firstpractical hand-book” on man-agement of wildanimals in cap-tivity. Its author,R. B. Sanyal,became famousfor the book in the world of naturalscience. The book was not surpasseduntil Lee Crandal of New York Zoopublished his much used book, WildMammals in Captivity, having citedSanyal a total of 18 times!

Many other zoos were founded in thesubcontinent’s “early days” in localitieswhich subsequently became seperatenations. These and a sampling of laterzoos are described in pages 16-20.There came a time in the history of thisregion, however, when the craze forhunting -- both for gentleman’s sportand for collecting live animals -- put thewildlife of South Asia in jeopardy. Thisstage is no better symbolised by therealisation by India that there wereperhaps 2000 tigers remaining out ofan estimated 40,000, and the start ofProject Tiger by Indira Gandhi. Subse-quently it was realised that developmentalso had much to do with the decline ofwildlife. Riding the coat-tails of theimportance and popularity wildlife thenachieved, during the years followingfrom 1975 up to 1990, the number ofzoos in India mushroomed up to 200and subsequently more than 350 !Thus began, in panic, a truly modernphase of zoo improvement, legislationand partnership in India which wouldhave implications for zoos in othercountries both in South Asia andotherwise.

A Handbook of theA Handbook of theA Handbook of theA Handbook of theA Handbook of theManagement of WildManagement of WildManagement of WildManagement of WildManagement of WildAnimals in CaptivityAnimals in CaptivityAnimals in CaptivityAnimals in CaptivityAnimals in Captivity

in Lower Bengalin Lower Bengalin Lower Bengalin Lower Bengalin Lower Bengal

R. BR. BR. BR. BR. B. Sany. Sany. Sany. Sany. Sanyalalalalal

Menageries to Conservation Centres

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The Role of Modern Zoos & Aquariums in South AsiaThe major goal of zoos and aquariumsis to protect and secure endangeredspecies and ecosystems. To achievethis goal they contribute to natureconservation by being part of globalconservation actions, and they promotethe link between their conservationactivities and their daily work to gainpublic support.

As far back as a century ago a smallnumber of zoos became engaged inconservation. In the 1960s wildlifeconservation became a major task ofmost zoological institu tions. Today mostof them show great efforts in this field,but often without public recognition.

Zoos and aquariums - as recreationcentres taking care of their animals -inform visitors and others about theorigins and effect of threats to endan-gered species and advertise in order tofind support. They describe theirmission to visitors and associate theirzoo internal activities with externalconservation programmes. Everyinstitution can find meaningful ways toparticipate in global conservation fromfinancial assistance to training, educa-tion, in kind assistance and moralsupport. Strong engagement with otherzoos and wildlife agencies is importantfor the success of nature conservationprogrammes.

The modern and complex field of natureconservation deals with a variety ofsubjects and includes a diversity oforganisations, all trying to achieve thesame goals. In contrast to many other

conservation organisations zoos andaquariums attract large numbers ofvisitors. They have the unique possibilityand capability to inform the public aboutconservation matters. A majority oforganised zoos and aquariums breedendangered animal species in specialbreeding programs such as the SpeciesSurvival Plan SSP of the USA’s zoo andaquarium association, European zoos’EEP, etc.

In addition to breeding threatenedspecies of animals, which may or maynot be utilised for return to the wild, theyare able to:

- conduct field conservation projects orcontribute financially to such projects,either by technical support, educationand training, scientific research workwith local institutions, such as zoos,breeding facilities or sanctuaries.

- conduct or support scientific researchin the field or in zoos. Such researchshould contribute to nature conservation.

- stimulate and engage in politicaldebates with one's own government andwith others.

- raise funds in order to support conser-vation programmes or projects.

Zoos in different parts of the world havedifferent functions, but all of the well-intentioned zoos have as a priority topractice some form of wildlife conserva-tion and to keep their animals in comfort-able and safe living conditions. We

WAZA's main goalsAll members apply the principle ofintegrated nature conservation.They allocate their financial meansand staff effectively and collaboratewith others.

make a distinction between well-intentioned zoos and others becausethere are, in fact, a substantial number ofzoos which are under nurtured eitherbecause they are under-resourced infinance, expertise or staff or becausethey are owned and operated by individu-als or institutions which do not care.There is an initiative afoot now in WAZAto address this issue and attempt tosystematically assess substandardzoos with an objective of helping thosewhich want help and have somepotential to improve.

In some of the most biologically diverseand biologically rich parts of the world,some countries are the most highlypopulated and have the lowest standardof living per capita and the lowest valuedcurrency in the world. Many of the zoosin these countries do not look aspolished as zoos in wealthy countriesand may also not be as well-advised inhow to keep animals. Also, thesecountries, in addition to their problems ofpopulation and economic difficulties,often have problematic wild animalHyenas in Central Zoo, Nepal. Photo by Sally Walker.

Red panda in Darjeeling Zoo.Photo by Sanjay Molur.

Role of Modern Zoos & Aquariums

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Recreation, conservation, education and researchZoos and aquariums are recreational areas - providing a well designedenvironment where urban people can taketime out. Meeting animals inenjoyable surroundings is at the source of people caring for animals andnature and thus becoming conservationists. Zoos and aquariums areconservation areas – providing natural habitats for native species and buildingtime bridges for species that are threatened in the wild. Zoo animals do notperceive themselves as prisoners but as owners of their enclosures, whichterritorial species will defend against intruders. Zoos and aquariums areplaces of education and research – providing formal and informal educationopportunities, cooperating with research institutions and developingincreasingly into integral conservation centres linking their ex situ activities toin situ conservation projects.

situations, such as animals collecteddue to human animal conflict, surplusanimals from confiscations due to trade,ill treatment of animals, over-breeding ina zoo, etc., animals picked up orphanedor injured due to poaching or evennatural causes, pet animals turned in bythe public when they grow up, and so on.

Zoos with these problems often have ahard time even housing and feedingtheir own animals. Therefore they findproviding adequate housing and care forthe additional animals they are notpermitted to refuse by virtue of running azoo extremely difficult.

This is, however, also a role of a modernzoo in South Asia - to take in and care forthese wild animals which have no whereelse to go. It is modern times which hascreated the situation to a great extentwith development eating up forestswhich once belonged to wild animalsexclusively.

In South Asia, education of the public inhow to behave so that they don’t createmore problem animals is one of thezoos important roles. Zoo visitationfigures in South Asian countries indicatethat zoos are perhaps the most popularform of recreation aside from cinema or,in some cities, cricket. While people arevisiting the zoo they can learn about thevalue of their environment and wildlifeand how to conserve it.

South Asian zoos also can breedanimals for potential release to the wild,but - as do other zoos in the world - onlyunder very rigorous conditions. Also, inSouth Asia, finding a piece of forestuninhabited by humans, inhabited byprey species or other appropriateanimals and plants, and large enoughfor a wild population is increasinglydifficult.

Some zoos have released surplusanimals and some courts have orderedthe translocation of troublesome citymonkeys to wild areas without sufficientresearch and preparation which hascaused damage to the resident animals,to the habitat as well as to the releasedanimals.

Zoos should not either be dumpinggrounds for animals or use the wild asdumping grounds for their own surpluswhich come from breeding mistakes.Zoo standards and legislation through-out the world now attempts to coverthese important issues.

National Zoological Park, New Delhi. Waterbodies in South Asia’s zoos make safehavens for wintering migratory birds. Photo by Sally Walker.

Lions at Kabul Zoo, Afghanistan. Hybrids of Asiatic and African lions nonethelessmake a good exhibit. A gift from the Chinese Government. Photo by Brendon W-J.

Recreation, conservation, education and research

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Back to Nature if science is secure

Zoos and aquariums focus on optimizing animal husbandry, breedingprograms, small population management and wildlife health. They also

carry out training programs for professionals and offer financial means forresearch projects and long term field studies. In addition zoos and

aquariums provide a key resource for training wildlife veterinarians.Veterinary professionals can evaluate and treat new pathogens and thus

contribute to reintroduction and translocation of animal species.

Zoos and aquariums serve as arks in which carefully managed animalpopulations are bred and their progeny is reintroduced into the wild. Theseinstitutions can provide their knowledge, skills and the necessary animals

for breeding. They are also able to establish appropriate social groupswhich optimize the chance of successful breeding and rearing and they

ensure continued monitoring of released animals which improves thesuccess rate of reintroduction.

If zoos and aquariums want to become a major force in conservationactions, they must pool their financial resources in order to build up nature

conservation units. The tasks of field staff vary from short assessmentsurveys to long term field studies. Nature conservation programs are often

far away from parent institutions, hence staff must collaborate with localgovernments, learn to speak foreign languages and deal with differentcultures. It is most important to train staff from wildlife, forestry, national

parks, zoos and aquariums from countries withgreat biological diversity.

Wildlife at the zoo in SouthAsia

Well-designed zoos contain a largenumber and variety of microhabitatssuch as log piles, stone heaps, hedges,brush walls, ponds, walls, groves etc.,which support local fauna and flora.Most obvious for the visitors is thesometimes amazing number of wild birdspecies that have chosen a zoo as theirhabitat, in particular larger birds in manyzoos of southern Asia (such as pelicans,cormorants and painted storks at MysoreZoo’s beautiful man-made 200 acreKaranji Tank, painted storks at theNational Zoo’s extensive water bodies, aheronry at the Bhopal Lake which abutsthe unique 1000 acre zoo legallyclassified as a National Park, storks andother birds at Pakistan’s Karachi SafariPark ... the list is long and varied.

Much other wildlife roams among theregion’s zoos. Mysore Zoo acceptedpangolins from donors rather than leavethem to be released wrongly, and letthem go free in the 250 acre, lushlyvegetated zoo premises. Now it ispossible to see mother and babypangolines in the early hours of themorning at Mysore Zoo, calmly trundlingthrough the zoo on their own.

Nearly all the zoos of South Asia whichhave water bodies have both seasonaland year-round visitors, most reliablybirds, but others as well such asmongoose, squirrels, jackals (notalways a good thing!) and a plethora ofsmall reptiles, amphibians, and, ofcourse, insects. Many zoos of theregion conduct field inventories of theirflora and fauna and helpfully list residentspecies and their characterisitics as partof their education mandate.

One of the most dramatic instances ofwildlife at the zoo is the oft told true storyof a male tiger who, attracted by themating call of a zoo female jumped overthe fence and surrendered his freedomfor love. This took place at the beautifulNandankanan Zoo which is part of awildlife sanctuary. Another classic is themale lions which wander over from theGirnar Hills onto the zoo land to gazelongingly at the captive females in theSakkarbaug Zoo, a zoo started by aMaharaja first and formost to look afterthe ill and injured lions of Gir Forest.

WAZA’s main goals

All WAZA members tryto focus theirconservation activitieswithin local, national orregional BiodiversityAction Plans, or similarSpecies RecoveryProgrammes.

Zoos and aquariumswork together with otherinstitutions and theappropriate governmentauthorities of the hostcountry and - wheneverpossible – recruitconservation staff forwork in the wild.

Well managed zoos andaquariums also arerefuges for endangeredresident animalspecies.

Rare two-headed Giraffe at National ZoologicalPark, New Delhi ! Photo by Sally Walker

Back to Nature

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WAZA's main goalsAll members encourage researchinitiatives, especially those directedtowards conservation, and raisefunds for research. New researchfields must be monitored for theirpotential application to conservation.

Some examples of Research in South Asian zoosResults of internal research in zoos andaquariums can further their own aims,e.g. animal husbandry, species conser-vation, visitor preference and zooeducational methods etc.. In addition,zoos and aquariums can give externalresearch groups access to material andanimals for comparative studies.

Scientific research is vital in helping tosolve the conservation crisis. In order tosupport local conservation, priority mustbe given to research which has clearimplications for the conservation ofpopulations and habitats. Only long-termstudies can successfully reveal prob-lems, help determine those actionswhich are of highest priority to achievesound conservation-based solutionsand ultimately evaluate the results.All fields relevant to nature conservationbenefit from scientific research. TheWAZA network is a valuable tool foruniversities, zoos and aquariums.Research work in zoos and aquariumsneeds greater financial support. Themajor part of costs is contributed by theinstitutions themselves.

Research results must be madeavailable to zoo staff in a comprehensivemanner. Most zoos and aquariums lackexpert teams which can evaluatepublications dealing with specializedsubjects. Therefore, popular scientificpublications are helpful.

Evaluation is necessary in ensuring thatresearch work remains focussed onstated priorities, is financially supported,serves conservation efforts and achievesthe required goal.

Knowledge is Power -- ZooConservation Research

IndiaIndia’s National Zoo Policyobjectives provide opportunities forscientific studies useful forconservation in general and creationof database sharing betweenagencies involved in ex situ andinsitu conservation, and the matterrelating to supporting scientific andinnovative works in Indian zoos.

Some of the areas taken up forresearch are• Zoo design and architecture• Standardization of animal diet incaptive conditions• Disease diagnosis and cure• Use of biotechnologicalInterventions• Training for zoo zersonnel• Stakeholders and policymakers• Studbook management• Visitor studies

CZA has also Small GrantsFellowships for initiating researchactivities at the zoo level as well asan annual CZA Award for the mostinnovative Indian zoo research.

A Laboratory (Laboratory forConservation of EndangeredSpecies – LaCONES) has beenestablished at Hyderabad. TheLaboratory has already standardisedsignatures of 2000 species of wildanimals. Research activities in thefield of Assisted Reproduction (AR)have been initiated in vultures.Births through AR technique hasbeen achieved in ungulates likeBlackbuck and Spotted Deer. Effortsto breed large cats through ARtechnique are also underway.

PakistanLahore Zoo research studies duringlast few years under the supervisionof the zoo veterinarian and the zooeducation officer are :• Study of blood parasites in big cats• Study of feeding behaviour of tigers• Study of anaesthesia of cranes withAlphaxolone-Alphadolone• Study on sex identification of

cranes through laproscopy• Study on haemoparasites ofcranes• Study of sex identification inparrots• Comparative study of efficacy ofdifferent anthelmatics onendoparasites in big cats• Study on breeding behaviour ofHog Deer, Urial and Blackbuck incaptivity• Causes of mortality in HoubaraBustard• Environmental enrichment ofAfrican Elephant• Conservational strategies of zoo.• Paternalism in Vertvet Monkey.• Study of visitor attitudes at LahoreZoo.• Breeding behavior of Guinea Fowl• Feeding behavior of Blue-YellowMacaw.

Sri LankaThe National Zoological Gardensand the Pinnewala ElephantOrphanage have participated in anumber of international researchprojects involving their jointcollection of Asian elephants.Recently the central governmentdeputed 30 researchers to the zooin recognition of the institution’spotential for wildlife research andoutanding service in the past. Thezoo now has its own ministry in thegovernment and is well placed to tocompete with any in the world inresearch.

BangladeshThe Dhaka Zoo and Rangpur Zooare under the Animal HusbandryDepartment which makes theirrelationship with the veterinarycolleges of Bangladesh a certainty.A variety of research projects arecarried out under this arrangement.

NepalThe Central Zoo has arrangementswith a number of the universitiesand colleges of the country to permitstudents to come and conduct non-invasive research at the zoo.

Zoo Conservation Research

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Ex situ populations must be demo-graphically stable, well maintained andcapable of self-sustaining reproduction.

These populations should be distributedamong several breeding institutions(zoos or otherwise) and of sufficient sizeto maintain high levels of geneticdiversity. Animal collections of somebreeding programs are much too smallto be of significant value to long-termconservation programs. How canmanagement of animal collections inzoos and aquariums contribute toconservation actions? The answer liesin the cooperation of regional or globalbreeding programs, such as are alsodescribed on the following page underCommunication, Cooperation, Coordi-nation = Zoo Conservation

A viable and healthy population alsorequires demographic stability toensure survival and self sustainingreproduction.

Genetic diversity is most important forthe survival of a healthy population andfor the capability to adapt to environmen-tal changes. A viable ex situ populationshould be of sufficient size to retain 90%of the founders' genetic diversity for 100years.

All ex situ programmes aim at support-ing in situ conservation in some way orother. This implies that zoos andaquariums contribute their knowledge ofsmall population management toconservation programmes and can alsorefer to the reintroduction of animalspecies.

Today many wildlife populations faceproblems similar to those of ex situpopulations - they are small and havelimited gene flow.

Zoos and aquariums in different regionsmay have different conservation priori-ties. The following criteria may be usedfor prioritizing species:

• degree of threat to wild populations, i.e.IUCN categories of threat;• taxonomic uniqueness;• species native to a region;• educational and research value;• holding flagship species for exhibition• species with stable and healthy

Lost without Zoos -- PopulationManagement and Species Prioritisation

populations and established husbandryprotocols.

CommunicationSometimes zoos in some parts of theworld find it difficult to keep up with theconservation sciences. Zoos andconservation scientists from countrieswhich are conducting ground-breakingresearch should make a very strongeffort to communicate effectively with thecountries which represent the naturalrange of species.

In Asia many of the big cat subspeciesare mixed up. Western zoos knew thiswas not wanted long before the zoos inother parts of the world did, but some-how the message did not get throughuntil many species of hybrid lions andeven hybrid tigers had been born. Now,and for a very long time, many Asianzoos are burdened with big cats whichneed a great deal of space and food to

WAZA's main goalsAll breeding programmes followspecific programme objectives.Data collected from ex situ popula-tions. WAZA guidelines to befollowed before accepting confis-cated animals.

be comfortable and healthy but are notuseful for conservation. Visitors don’tknow the difference when they see themexhibited, but that’s not what its all about.

Zoos in South Asia now collaborate andcommunicate more with scientists inlocal universities in order to keep up withmodern developments in animalscience which do not come to light in thecurrent zoo literature.

Hybrid lion in Dhaka Zoo, Bangladesh. Photo by Mike Jordan.

Population Management

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World wide coordination of ex situconservation breedingConservation breeding programs areusually run at the regional -- ARAZPA(Australia), AZA (North America), EAZA(Europe), PAAZAB (Africa), SAZARC(South Asia) or occasionally national --BIAZA (Britain and Ireland), JAZA(Japan), CZA (India) level, astransferring animals from one continentto another is always a cumbersomeexercise. In addition, regionalassociations are supposed to maintainregional studbooks for species whichare not in need of global coordination.As an example, the EuropeanAssociation of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA)manages a total of 314 regionalbreeding programs or studbooks for theEuropean countries.

The earliest coordinated conservationbreeding efforts by the zoo communitydate one century back and concern theAmerican Bison, Bison bison, andEuropean Wisent, Bison bonasus, atNorth American and European zoos andwildlife parks respectively. In 1923,Central European zoo directors foundedthe International Society for theConservation of the Wisent.Exterminated in the wild, 56 individualsof this largest European land mammalhad survived in zoos. These animalswere inventoried and a studbook wasestablished. Over the years, otherstudbooks followed, and as of today, noless than 182 international studbooksare kept under the auspices of WAZA.

Communication, Cooperation,Coordination = Zoo Conservation

ISIS and its partner, Zoological Information Management, ZIMS sentAasim Turk to introduce participants to the amazing new innovations in the

programme. ZIMS will revolutionise zoo management around the world.Photo by Sanjay Molur.

Karin Schwartz representing ISIS and teaching ISIS Records Management at the 6th South Asian Zoo Association Conference. Photo by Sanjay Molur.

The studbooks provide the basis for thecoordinated breeding of the speciesconcerned. WAZA oversees the goodfunctioning of the studbooks through itsCommittee for Inter-RegionalConservation Coordination (CIRCC),and there is a global coordinator for theinternational studbooks, also mandatedfor WAZA.

In South Asia, there are many speciesheld by zoos for which there is anInternational Studbook. Lion-tailedMacaque, Asiatic Lion, IndianRhinoceros, for example. In India theCentral Zoo Authority has arepresentative who manages nationalstudbooks for some five highlythreatened species including thosementioned above.

Currently SAZARC, South Asia’sregional zoo association, has not takenup studbooks for the region becausethere are other priorities before this taskcan be done with accuracy, for examplezoo records. All major zoos, which holdthe most viable threatened species andhave the best chance of following abreeding programme, need first tobecome members of the InternationalSpecies Information System, acomputer based animal data systemwhich helps zoos keep their animalrecords systematically and accurately.This project itself is a very large one andis in process. Last year at the fifthannual SAZARC meeting, a five-daytraining was given to all participantswhich introduced them to the basics ofISIS and the new system which is beingbuilt, ZIMS.

Zoo Conservation

Learning for Life – Zoo EducationEducation and training are major tasksof zoos and aquariums. Every institutionshould have a defined policy to allow itachieve educational aims - especiallyconservation of biodiversity and environ-mental sustainability - and must operatein an eco-friendly manner. Only then willeducation gain credibility.

Zoo education is an integral disciplinewhich aims at visitors and the public aswell as at zoo staff. Zoo education mustturn into education for nature conserva-tion. The exchange of ideas is funda-mental to the effectiveness of educa-tional work. For this reason educationalstaff and staff from other fields cooperatein networks (e.g. International ZooEducators Association).

Progress of nature conservation de-pends on the development of under-standing in the interaction betweenspecies and environment as well as onhuman attitude and behaviour.Zoos and aquariums have changed intoeducational centres for local experts andtherefore support local capacities forconservation. Zoo staff becomesqualified by means of adequate educa-tion for future engagements.All employees and volunteers should

WAZA's main goalsEducation is one major task of zoosand aquariums and should be givenadequate support. Collaborationbetween other education institu-tions, organisations, ministries andparticipation in the development offormal curriculum activities createsa basis for enhancing the effective-ness of conservation education.Educational programmes availablefor zoo staff support common aims.

have an overview of the goals and tasksof their organisations and be aware oftheir common goal.

Conservation campaigns of zoos andaquariums harness public interest andtherefore gain political support. Zoologi-cal institutions unite environmentalmatters in everyday life which leads to abetter understanding. The illegal tradewith meat of poached African animals,for example, can be compared to theproblem of over-collected medicinalplants in South Asia. Therefore visitorsof South Asian zoos and aquariumsbecome aware of the omnipresence ofenvironmental problems.

SAN-IZEIZE, the International Zoo EducatorAssociation brings together zoo andeven other conservation educators fromall over the world to share their common-ality of purpose. As a professionalassociation, IZE attempts to inject theelements of professionalism into all zooeducation, such as the need for accu-rate, interesting information, for evalua-tion, and for emotional impact.

IZE is organised along continental linesbut has also a network within Asia forSouth Asia which is managed by ZooOutreach Organisation. SAN-IZEprepares and distributes simple andinexpensive but attractive educationalmaterial designed primarily to be usedwith a group at a zoo or other naturalarea. The material takes up a contem-porary issue, a single species or ataxonomic group for introducing to zoo orwildlife park visitors. Group work, super-vised and guided by a zoo educationofficer or other appropriate zoo em-ployee, a teacher, a conservation edu-cator or any interested and competentperson, is encouraged because groupscan participate in activities which arephysical and intellectual and-mostimportant-fun ! The combination ofgroup, materials and activities providean emotional experience for participantswhich will have more of an impact thansimply reading a sign or handout.

Animal, people and plant masks areprovided so that group leaders canconduct spontaneous dramas with aconservation theme. Simple wristbracelets called “rakhi’s” are providedand children asked to tie a rakhi on theirpartner and make a pledge or commit-ment to conservation. Small placardswith a catchy slogan are provided forkids to hold as they go around the zoochanting, so as to teach them thesatisfaction of activism. All theseactivities provide good photo ops for thepress so that publicity is more effective.

Over 200 institutions and individualeducators apply for this material andconduct educational activities in theregion. The materials are provided freeof cost if the applicant promises to usethem according to the active guidelinesdescribed above. Funds for thesematerials provide well off zoos in otherregions a means of contributing toconservation of a species or project inwhich they have an interest.

Small studentsenjoy lessons

more if they arefun. Animal

masks, drama,etc., mixed in

with zoo studyvisits enhancethe probability

of a positiveassociation

with wildlife &animal welfare

which willhopefully stickin their mindsfor a lifetime.

Photo byPuja Vijay

Sukhija

Zoo Education9

10

Zoos and aquariums are engaged inconservation, education, recreation andresearch. And visiting the zoo is fun!Nature conservation and fun are notmutually exclusive. If zoos want to pointthis out, they must improve the commu-nication strategy of their staff. Messagesshould be simple and clear and involvepeople with an anti-zoo attitude into thedebate.

Many people still have reservationsabout keeping animals in zoos oraquariums. This discomfort is supportedby militant anti-zoo activists and someanimal welfare organisations. Whenzoos and aquariums are forced todefend themselves, valuable resourcesof time and energy are diverted fromconservation activities.

Institutions should take every opportunityto inform people about their achieve-ments and demonstrate how to partici-pate. Effective communication influencespeople's attitude towards zoologicalinstitutions and our environment. Theyare encouraged to conserve biodiversityand habitats.

Visitors, for their part, should also “talkabout” zoos to their friends, family,colleagues. Sometimes a visitor to thezoo learns about the real purpose of thezoo for the very first time and has anepiphany (an aha! experience). It isuseful if visitors then spread the goodnews about zoos to others.

Visiting zoos can lead to a change inopinion and behaviour. Zoos andaquariums must give visitors practicaladvice and make it easy for people tobecome active - to whatever extent.Visiting zoos and aquariums bringsbenefits to urban populations. Today'surban children are the conservationistsof tomorrow. Zoos and aquariums arelocalities of relative peace and tranquil-lity. They should emphasize the value ofuniting people with nature - in otherwords reconciling human beings withtheir natural surrounding.

People will support zoos and aquari-ums, if it is explained how their moneydirectly supports nature conservationand how it improves the wellbeing ofanimals in zoological institutions.Communication must point out twoissues of conservation: direct conserva-tion, support of field studies and wildlife

Volunteers and Visitors needed toSpread the Good Word about Zoos

programs - and indirect conservation,change of attitude and behaviour.Staff members of zoos and aquariumsmust choose a simple and directlanguage and should avoid technicalterms, where possible. They shouldlisten to criticism, correct wrong state-ments and invite those who are againstzoos to look at our record in conservationin recent decades. The out-of-date viewsof such people must be challenged andcorrected.The public at large and even manygovernment authorities and NGOs donot perceive zoos as conservationorganisations. With a view ofincreasing awareness of the zoos’involvement in conservation, WAZA hasbegun to brand, on application,suitable projects. These projects arepublicized on www.waza.org and inWAZA’s print publications.Tiger was the theme of a largecampaign run by the EuropeanAssociation of Zoos and Aquaria EAZAin 2003/04. More than 125 memberzoos participated and raised morethan Rs. 45 crore for selected tigerconservation projects. Several

Twenty-first Century Tiger Project contributed funds and in kind to tigerrange countries in South Asia. Photo Twenty-first Century Tiger.

WAZA's main goalsAll members apply a communica-tion strategy that considers aims,addressees and key messages,chooses tactics and methods,identifies resources available anddevelops monitoring and evaluationtechniques.

projects from tiger bearing South Asiancountries were selected for funding outof this project (one is below).In addition to such conservationprojects, WAZA has undertaken a zooimprovement initiative which has, sofar, drafted guidelines for zoos whichwant to help substandard zoos in theirown and in other countries as well.The old days of zoos tolerating butneglecting other zoos with animalwelfare problems is, or will be, a thingof the past. In a few more years badzoos will be, in fact, “history”. Peopleneed to know this, to visit zoos and tounderstand their problems andpotential and what good zoos aredoing about substandard zoos.

Spread the Good Word about Zoos

11

Zoos/aquariums cannot take over alltasks to preserve biological diversity.They must associate with other institu-tions. In cooperation with others evensmall zoos can make an importantcontribution in conservation, e.g. animalbreeding, education or field projects.

Field projects offer opportunities tocreate networks between zoos ofdifferent continents. Local zoos - on theone hand - are familiar with localcustoms and thus have the ability toconvince local communities to supportfield conservation projects, as well as toconduct education and awarenesscampaigns. On the other hand coopera-tion with well resourced zoos helps localinstitutions become acquainted with thestandards and professional ethics of theinternational zoo association and learnabout animal welfare.

Professional associations are effectiveinstruments in achieving improvementsin zoos and aquariums. Zoo associa-tions must develop a consciousness forconservation that unites the activities ofits members within an ethical andtechnical framework. WAZA furthers thecollaboration between zoos and aquari-ums worldwide and like-mindedprofessional organisations. WAZAimproves relationships with govern-ments, government organisations and

Partnerships

WAZA's main goalsZoos and aquariums establishstrong partnerships at every level.They participate in the work ofnational and / or regional zooassociations. Zoo associationsadvise their local governments onthe improvement of zoo legislationand put their members under theobligation to represent a con-science for conservation incompatibility with their culture.

major nongovernment organisations(NGOs). WAZA coordinates the activitiesof zoo associations and of single zoosand aquariums at international meetingse.g. conferences of parties to interna-tional agreements. IUCN offers a varietyof opportunities for cooperation. Zoosworldwide have close relationships to theSpecies Survival Commission (SSC),together with its numerous specialistgroups for certain animal species,animal health, conservation breeding(CBSG), reintroductions or education.

Zoos can partner with organisations thatpromote plants, or forest products, oranything that leads to conservation of thenatural world and sustainability.

Zoo partnerships for PlantsZoo Outreach Organisation makes educational materials for zoologi-cal gardens, forest divisions, conservation organisations, and schoolsfor special events. This year ZOO partnered with Chester Zoo, whichgave funds, and Botanic Gardens Conservation International BCGI,which gave 5000 tree trunk posters to provide over 200 organisationswith educational packets containing tree masks, bracelets, bookletsand other items for Earth Day, World Environment Day and WildlifeWeek. More than 10,000 kids were educated in the importance ofPlants for Life and took home attractive stuff for parents and siblingsto read. This is a an example of partnerships that work !

Photos taken at VOC Park and Chandra Matriculation Schoolby B. A. Daniel & R. Marimuthu

Partnerships

12

Give Sustainability a ChanceZoos and aquariums are mandated toparticipate in conservation of biodiversityand must not undermine this aim in anyway that leads to the depletion of naturalresources. They work increasinglysustainably, use natural resourceswithout exploiting them and show theirvisitors how to adopt sustainable lifestyles. If zoos and aquariums becomemodels of sustainability, they can take aleading position in environmentalconservation, propose beneficialecological methods and encouragestudies to solve regional problems.The following principles help to maintainthe inevitable influence on environmenton a small level.

• Apply the three "R’s": reduce, reuse,recycle.

• Separate waste at source in order tosupport reuse and recycling.

• Maximize energy efficiency in all fields,reduce energy consumption duringtravelling, transportation and try to useenergy produced from renewableresources.

• Use products that embody the mostefficient and least environmental

damaging use of natural resources (thisapplies to all products from majorconstruction materials to dailyconsumables).

• Ensure that animal acquisitions anddispositions are not only sustainableenvironmentally but also ethically andculturally.

• Avoid environmental pollution.

• Maximize the proportion of goods andservices that come from local providers.

• A reduction in differences of livingconditions across the world is essentialfor sustainable development. Thereforecontribute to an equitable developmentby supporting conservation projects andadjusting purchasing policies andpractices to help.

• Become vegetarians

• Use the educational resources of zoosto explain people the necessity ofchanging attitudes and behaviour and togive advice as to how to participate.

• Set an example for other businesses inthe use of ecologically beneficialoperations.

WAZA's main goalsAll institutions practice environmen-tal sustainability. They maintainnatural resources and show how toachieve sustainability. Institutionsdemonstrate how social attitudesand behaviour can be changed.

One frequently asked question: What willsustainability cost? The answer issimple: Sustainability is profitable to allof us! Just think of the cost of water toyour zoo, your home, your school, yourbusiness. Saving energy doesn’t justbenefit the world ... it benefits families.Recycling doesn’t take much time and itkeeps the environment cleaner as wellas saves material.

If you as a student visit a zoo or anindustry or any business on a field tripand see leaky faucets, wasted papercups and copying paper, smelly orsmoky furnaces, don’t be shy to point itout. Sometimes adults are terriblyembarassed to have a youngster point-ing out the better way and fall in line.

Zoos are Living classroomsLiving classrooms

Most zoos and aquariums attractgroups from a variety ofeducational institutions. By provideexciting, interactive, structurededucational workshops,programmes or classes andresources, tailored to meet thespecific needs of these groups,zoos and aquariums cancontribute to learning andunderstanding as part of local andnational curricular frameworks.

At the same time, zoo educatorscan raise the profile ofenvironmental and conservationissues and advocate positiveattitudes about, and action for,nature from schools, colleges anduniversities into the community.

Local people all over the world flock tozoos and parks for a taste of nature and

of enjoyable education. Photo byBrendan Whittington-Jones.

Inexpensive props in zoo educationsuch as paper animal masks can makelessons come to life more easily. Photo

by Vena Kapoor

Sustainability

13

Ethics and Animal Welfare in Daily LifeWell-meaning zoos and aquariumsfollow ethical principles and maintainhighest standards in wildlife welfare andmanagement and breeding which mayeven exceed legislation standards. TheCode of Ethics adopted by the membersof WAZA and regional and membernational associations is the commonground on which nature conservationactivities are based. Breeding actionsshould not affect animal welfare.

Animal welfare is understood as humanbehaviour towards individual animals. Ifconflicts of interest exist between welfareof individual animals and the conserva-tion of species or populations, zoos andaquariums must decide on the setting ofpriorities. Zoological institutions do notonly pursue goals of conservation, butalso attempt to meet the requirements ofthe individuals they are responsible for.Zoos and aquariums should maintainanimals without risk of injury or diseaseto visitors.

Animals should be removed from theirnatural environment only if it is abso-lutely essential for the survival of an exsitu population. Acquiring individuals ofendangered species from wild popula-tions is acceptable only, if this actioncontributes to the long-term survival ofthreatened populations and legalobligations are fulfilled.

Zoos participating in breedingprogrammes are responsible for theregulation of their animal collections.Absence of predators and food shortageas well as continued medical care mayresult in a surplus of individuals insuccessful programmes. Surplusindividuals can be transferred to otherinstitutions or semi-reserves or they maybe reintroduced within the framework ofa conservation project. Temporarilythese individuals can also be excludedfrom breeding. If none of these possibili-ties are feasible without causingsuffering, affecting group behaviour orhazarding the maintenance of ex situpopulations, euthanasia might beconsidered.

Design and structure of animal enclo-sures should mirror the species' nativeenvironment, meeting physiologicalrequirements and including possibilitiesfor species-specific behaviour. Enrich-ment activities trigger behaviouralreactions and give individuals opportuni-ties to keep their reflexes sharp. Zoostaff must focus on animal welfare which

should influence enclosure design.

In addition to all of the above, it shouldbe remembered that invasive exoticanimal and plant species are a potentialthreat to the indigenous fauna and flora,therefore extraordinary steps must betaken to prevent escape and disbursal ofreproductive material of exotic animalsand plants.

Balancing animal welfare versusbreeding animals for conservation isnecessary to maintain viable ex situpopulations and allows the animals toexpress their normal reproductivebehaviour and courtship. On the otherhand, it is almostimpossible to breedwithout producingsurplus animals.Prevention of reproduc-tion, however, hasnegative effects notonly on the continuedexistence of the ex situpopulation and on thebehaviour of theindividuals or groups, itoften has also anegative impact onbody functions. Sexualcycles that do not leadto pregnancy have apathological effect andcan lead to prematureinfertility by irreversiblydamaging the genitaltract. The use ofcontraceptives sup-presses cycle activityand, if used over thelong term, may lead todramatic changes inthe female reproductiveorgans. Thus,reproductive manage-ment has both popula-tion/genetic and animalwelfare implications.

WAZA's main goalsAll institutions permanently striveafter an improvement of methodsand professional techniques. If thekilling of surplus animals is notjustifiable and reproduction cannotbe prevented without causinghealth problems, then institutionsshould not have these animals intheir collection.

Daily Life Wildlife Welfare isfor ALL !

Zoos not only try and follow ethicalprinciples in their own conservationactions but also to establish good valuesand behaviour among their visitors. Insome parts of the world, animal welfareis not part of the public ethical frameworkand this is reflected in rowdy behaviourby visitors and even destructive actssuch as teasing, feeding, slippingdangerous objects to animals, throwingstones, and other bad behaviour.

Zoos attempt to counter such behaviourin their physical establishment (protec-tive barriers, etc.) and in their educationprogramme. It is not only zoo animalsthat deserve kindness from the publicbut wild and domestic animals every-where. Zoos create special signage toentreat visitors not only to behave duringtheir visit but to change their values in thelong term. Value-based zoo educationcan have a lasting impact on visitorsparticularly youngsters, whose mindsare a clean slate.

Photo collage by Zoo Outreach OrganisationThe idea was developed by Zoo Outreach Organisation and

is now used in zoos all over Asia in different languages

Daily Life Wildlife

14

About SAZARCThe South Asian Zoo Association forRegional Cooperation -- SAZARCwas founded in 2000 during the firstmeeting of S. Asian zoo personnel heldin Central Zoo, Nepal. The meetingfollowed a 3-day meeting of CBSG, S.Asia and was followed by an 8-daytraining in zoo education all organisedby Zoo Outreach Organisation Z.O.O.Countries represented: Bangladesh(2), Nepal (4 +), Sri Lanka (2), Pakistan(3), India (5). Subsequently, Bhutanand Afghanistan were added. SAZARCcurrently has an administrative officehosted by ZOO and a Director, SallyWalker, working honorarily for :• Coordination of Annual Meeting of theAssociation with CBSG, South Asia andincluding a training workshop• Fundraising• Maintenance of a data base of threatenedspecies of animals held in South Asianzoos• Distribution of scientific and technicalmaterials to zoos of the region includingZOOS’ PRINT magazine and journal, ZOOZEN compendium of technical material andoccasional documents.• Liaison with other international, regionaland national associations• Publication of an occasional Newsletterof the Association• Liaison IUCN specialist groupsConservation Breeding Specialist Group,RSG Reintroduction Specialist Group andvarious taxon and thematic groups for

organisation and coordination of workshopsand training for zoo and wildlife personnel

SAZARC is in a 10-year trial periodduring which time zoo personnel of theregion can get to know one another,become acquainted with the potentialof enhancing their conservation breed-ing programmes and other zoo func-tions by association with othercountries, share professional exper-ience, send various personnel for train-ing, host training in their zoo, and ulti-mately find a via media for conductingaffairs of an association sustainably.

Annual meetings have been conductedin a different South Asian country everyyear except when the association hasvisited their neighbour association,SEAZA, the South East Asian ZooAssociation. The meetings have been2000 - Nepal; 2001 - Malaysia forSEAZA; 2002 - Bangladesh; 2003 - SriLanka; 2004 - Pakistan; 2005 - India2006 - Vietnam for SEAZA.

Presidents of SAZARC have been2000-2001 - R. K. Shreshta, Nepal;2002 - Salehuddin Mahmud,Bangladesh; 2003 - Brig H.A.N.T.Perera, Sri Lanka; 2004 - Qadeer

Mehal, Pakistan;2005 - 2006 - R. K.Sahu, India

The Association has yet to conduct aconference in Afghanistan or Bhutan,but hopes to fill this gap in subsequentyears.

In 2004 SAZARC was granted fullassociate membership in the WorldAssociation of Zoos and Aquariumsmaking it one among 24 other regionaland national zoo association membersof WAZA. SAZARC in collaboration withZoo Outreach Organisation plays anactive role in zoo activities globally,having participated in the writing of theWorld Zoo and Aquarium ConservationStrategy, the drafting of various guide-lines and policy and in meetings ofrelated international organisations andfora, including CIRCC, Committee forInter Regional Cooperation inConservation, IZE, International ZooEducator Association, CBSG, etc.

How it works in the zoo world today isthat regional and national associationsare of prime importance, particularly intheir role in helping effect and enforcegood standards of zoo management.

Sixth Conference of the South Asian Zoo Association for Regional Cooperation, SAZARC, Coimbatore, India, visiting the site ofthe Nilgiri Biosphere Conservation Park operated by the Coimbatore Zoological Park Society CZP. Photo by Manju Siliwal.

About SAZARC

15

WAZA is the acronym of the WorldAssociation of Zoos and Aquariums,which was founded in 1946 as theInternational Union of Directors ofZoological Gardens (IUDZG). WAZAunites, at a global level, zoologicalgardens, aquariums, national andregional associations, like-mindedorganisations and individuals willing toabide by its bylaws and rules set by theAssociation, including its Code of Ethicsand Animal Welfare.

The objectives of the Association are:• to promote cooperation betweenzoological gardens and aquariums withregard to the conservation, managementand breeding of animals in captivity;

• to promote and coordinate cooperationbetween national and regional associa-tions and their constituents;

• to assist in representing zoologicalgardens and aquariums in otherinternational organisations or assem-blies;

• to promote environmental education,wildlife conservation and environmentalresearch.

WAZA unites more than 220 zoos andaquariums, 24 regional or national zooassociations and a small number ofaffiliate members who also support theVision and Mission of the Association.The result of this is that WAZA has, eitherdirectly or indirectly, influence over morethan 1300 zoos and aquariums world-wide. These institutions have more than100,000 employees and are hosts tomore than 600 million visitors each year,about 10% of the world's population.

This gives the WAZA access to largernumber of visiting public, more than anyother group of public, conservation-oriented institutions.

WAZA closely cooperates with theSecretariats of international conventions(CITES, CMS) and participates in theirConferences of the parties. WAZA is amember of IUCN and also maintainsclose working relationships with anumber of conservation NGOs andnational governments.

In situ, or combined ex situ and in situ,projects implemented orsupported by members ofthe WAZA network may receivethe WAZA brand. Applications areaccepted either from WAZA members orfrom project organisations. WAZApromotes the branded projects bypublicizing them on the website and in paper publications.For example, about half of the

About WAZAWAZA's Association Members

ACOPAZOOA - Colombian Association ofZoos and Aquariums

AIZA - Iberian Association of Zoos andAquariums

ALPZA - Latin American Zoo & AquariumAssociation

AMACAZOOA - Mesoamerican &Caribbean Zoos & Aquaria Association

ANPZ - French Zoo Association

ARAZPA - Australian Regional Associa-tion of Zoological Parks and Aquaria

AZA - American Zoo & Aquarium Asso-ciation

AZCARM - Asociación de Zoológicos,Criaderos y Acuarios de Mexico

BIAZA - British & Irish Association ofZoos & Aquariums

DAZA - Danish Association of ZoologicalGardens

DWV - Deutscher Wildgehege-Verband

EARAZA - Eurasian Regional Associa-tion of Zoos and Aquariums

EAZA - European Association of Zoosand Aquaria

FUNPZA - National Foundation ofZoological Parks and Aquaria, Venezuela

JAZA - Japanese Association of Zoologi-cal Gardens and Aquariums

PAAZAB - African Association of Zoologi-cal Gardens and Aquaria

SAZARC - South Asian Zoo Associationfor Regional Cooperation

SEAZA - South-East Asian Zoo Associa-tion

SNDPZ - French Zoo Directors' Federa-tion

SAZA (SDF) - Swedish Association ofZoological Parks and Aquaria

SZB - Sociedade de Zoológicos do Brazil

UCSZ - Union of Czech and SlovakZoological Gardens

UIZA - Italian Union of Zoos and Aquaria

VDZ - Verband Deutscher Zoodirektoren

WAZA's -- Affiliate Membersrelevant to South AsiaZOO -- Zoo Outreach Organisation

CZA -- Central Zoo Authority

WIN -- Wildlife Information Network

ISIS -- International SpeciesInformation System

IZE - International Zoo EducatorAssociation

world's amphibians arethreatened or endangered. Inmany cases the only solution is toconserve them ex situ with the hopethat the species can be reintroduced tothe wild at a later stage. WAZA hastherefore called upon its constituency toundertake a massive coordinated effortin addressing the global amphibianextinction crisis.

"Zoo" is not a registered trade mark, andall kind of establishments call them-selves zoos, even if they have nothing incommon with WAZA institutions, exceptthat they also keep wild animals. WAZAregards substandard "zoos" as a majorproblem and has established a workinggroup to look into ways and means ofdealing with such institutions.

WAZA conducts mid-year meetingsfor it’s Council to discuss variousissues and to draft guidelines.WAZA includes representation fromall major regions at these draftingmeetings. Asia is representedhere by SAZARC’s Director.

About WAZA

16

About South Asian ZoosIndiaMore of the history of zoo administrationin India is very instructive. State andnational governments in India havenever lagged behind the world inlegislation for zoos. Examples abound,such as in 1904, the Bangalore ForestAct included a provision empoweringzoo directors to fine individuals whovandalised zoos. The 1951 BombayWildlife Act provided for governmentalsupervision over zoos, with inspectionby a government-appointed officer.

In 1952 the central government’sprestigeous Indian Board for Wildlife(IBWL) included a Zoo Wing chaired bya senior government official, which metfrequently and framed provisions andsuggestions to improve Indian zoosfrom the perspective of animal welfare,education and even conservation inthose early years. The IBWL was notonly very supportive of zoos in theory,but also very particular that the zoosmaintain high standards. In 1972 theIndian Wildlife Protection Act madeprovisions for zoos and museums,allowing the capture of animals forzoos. In 1975, after conducting anextensive inspection of Indian zoos, theExpert Committee on Zoos brought outa report, recommending (among otheractions) a national zoo policy and acentral body to coordinate the zoos.Later in1986, when a team of USA zoodirectors were invited by the Ministry ofAgriculture to review 10 Indian zoos,they commented very favourably on the1975 document Management of Zoos inIndia in their extensive and encouragingReport. With these documents in hand,it was not so very difficult for an enter-prising NGO to remind the Departmentof Environment of the ideas suggestedby own officials at a crucial moment.

That moment came when publishedarticles and reports began to appearlisting established government zoos,mini zoos, deer parks, etc. and furtherestimating numbers in excess of 350institutions, which later proved to betrue. The newly established Ministry ofEnvironment, shocked by the numbersand quality of so many substandardgovernment institutions, responded in1990 with what might be the strongestzoo legislation in the world. The Zoo Actof 1991 provided for official registrationof all zoos (defined loosely so that allcaptive wild animal establishmentscame under the law) and the setting upof a Central Zoo Authority (CZA).Additional legislation in 1992 providednorms and standards, a mechanism for

inspection and financial assistance forzoos which were willing to modify theirenclosures and management to meetstandards. Zoos which did not improveor even try to do so were closed andover the next fifteen years (1992-2006)CZA evaluated 347 zoos, gaverecognition to 164, refused recognitionto 183 and closed 92 zoos, havingrelocated their animal suitably. Cases ofthe remaining 91 zoos are under review.The task of relocating animals fromclosed zoos is so formidable that itwould give pause to any governmentcontemplating closing a zoo. Indiadeserves maximum credit forconfronting the issue of their sub-standard zoos so squarely. It is the onlycountry in the world to have done so.

CZA likewise has set up coordinatedstudbooks, established guidelines for aplethora of management concerns,published a variety of books, manuals,etc. on different topics of zoomanagement and medicine, andconducted dozens of meetings,

conferences, workshops, andcoordinated many projects. As a verybrief summary this cannot do justice tothe varied activities and achievementsof the Central Zoo Authority, but let it besaid that CZA, Ministry of Environment,Government of India has probably triedharder and invested more in dealingwith the many challenges of captiveanimal managment and welfare in adifficult environment than any othergovernment organisation in the world.India also has taken responsibility fortheir sub-standard zoos, giving thistopic their closest attention and tried toset them right. While not always whollysuccessful, India’s efforts provide amodel for others to consider, and 15years is not a very long time comparedto the 150 years gone by. The CentralZoo Authority, despite having beenburdened with weighty animal welfareissues that most zoo bodies would nothave to face, has made continuousprogress in improving zoo managementin India and will continue to do so.

Indian zoos vary from 5 - 5000 acres and from inner city to coastline. This view ofthe Indira Gandhi Zoo, Vizag gives an idea of their natural beauty. Photo by S. Walker

South Asian Zoos - India

17

Other South Asian countriesIndia dominates the region of SouthAsia in sheer size and diversity butalmost every country has its own uniquepotential and problems in the arena ofwildlife and zoos. Every countrysurrounding India has a somewhatdifferent biotope and hence some floraand fauna that are endemic only to thatpolitical unit. Each country has someoutstanding zoos or related animalfacility and each their own zoo andwildlife culture. These surroundingcountries were even more isolated fromthe global zoo community than Indiaand also from one another. Evendirectors from the same country metone another for the first time at the verymoving first meeting of South Asian zoopersonnel held in Central Zoo, Nepal in2000. The meeting was mooted andorganised by Zoo Outreach Organisa-tion which called for the formation of aregional zoo association and set outground rules that no country shouldhave signficantly more participants ormembers than any other, so as to levelthe playing field between India and theother countries. Participantsenthusiastically formed the South AsianZoo Association for Regional Cooper-ation SAZARC which has met every yearsince and has been elected to member-ship in the World Association of Zoosand Aquariums WAZA. Member zoos bycountry and some of their outstandingzoo achievements follow:

BhutanBhutan having 73% of its lush forestcover remaining and a population withamazing values and public disciplinemay not even need a zoo, but there is asmall animal rescue centre there whichhas been declared recently a mini zoo.While its infrastructure is modest, thenatural vegetation and salubriousclimate make it attractive to arespectable number of visitors. Themini-zoo exhibits Marsh Crocodile,Gharial, Pheasants, Golden Mahseer,and Barking Deer.

AfghanistanAfghanistan is a recent entry to SAARC,the South Asian Association forRegional Cooperation, but its welcometo SAZARC preceeded that by 3 years.

The Kabul Zoo had its genesis in the1960s when the Kabul University facultybegan keeping wild animals whichbecame of interest to the public.President Nader founded a Committeeof Zoological Projects which includeduniversity faculty as well as national andmunicipal officials and in 1967 theKabul Zoo came into being. With helpfrom the university faculty of science, theKabul Zoo was constructed alongmodern lines in exhibitry and philo-sophy, highlighting Afghanistan’sindigenous animals in moated enclo-sures.

The zoo did not fare well during wartimewhich lasted for a long period. Publicityover the plight of a blind lion namedMarjan brought the zoo into globalpublic view and a loose consortium ofAmerican and European zoos led ahighly successful fundraising drive toprovide resources for fixing war torncages, rehabilitating the survivinganimals and generating interest ineducation. Now, the zoo is poised toimplement an earlier master plan andregain its earlier potential.

The zoo still specialises primarily innative species, such as the Ibex. Thezoo has an aquarium and hopes soonto rebuild a museum which had beendamaged beyond use during the longterm hostilities.

Gharial enclosure at mini-zoo Bhutan

A live tortoise facinates a youngAfghan girl. Photo by Brendan W-J.

An informal multinational group of zoopersonnel from USA, UK, Europe andIndia advises the zoo and providestraining, education, and networkingopportunities. Visits to other SouthAsian countries and visits from SAZARCzoo personnel are also a means ofkeeping Kabul Zoo in the loop ofmodern zoo management. The groupalso administers funds which werecollected to do basic repairs on the zoo.

Education activities are very popular inKabul and a major focus of the zoo.

The dignified Ibex is a native animal ofAfghanistan and fascinating treat for

visitors who do not frequent the hills.Photos by Brendan Whittington-Jones.

Bhutan and Afghanistan

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BangladeshBangladesh is a relatively new countryand within a very few years a zoo wasfounded right on the river at Mirpur. Atthat time and for some years, a visitorcould enter the zoo, go to area whichabutted the river and have a chance ofseeing live freshwater dolphins. Sadly,the zoo has lost that bit of land. None-theless, the Dhaka Zoo is situated on abeautiful and spacious piece of landwith lush foliage. Since its founding,zoos have come up in nine otherlocalities. Dhaka Zoo takes a lead inmentoring these zoos, always invitingthem to training courses and seminarsand giving animals which are surplus totheir collection. In 2002, the Dhaka Zoohosted a meeting of the South AsianZoo Association for RegionalCooperation and conducted a workinggroup to draft a document for promotingzoo legislation for Bangladesh. Thisidea was approved by the Governmentof Bangladesh and is currently underreview by the concerned Ministries. TheBangladesh zoo personnel also formedan association (BZA -Bangladesh ZooAssociation).

The Dhaka Zoo has organised, both onits own resources and with the help ofZoo Outreach Organisaton, SAZARC,and the Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh,WTB, a number of training workshopsand other gatherings. The governmentoffice which runs the zoo is cooperativeand enthusiastic about training andtravel for its zoo personnel which is aboon for the zoos. The zoo has begunfocusing on education, working withschool children, organising essaycompetitions related to wildlifeconservation. The zoo hopes to createa conservation education centre and aproject has been approved for the nextfiscal year.

The Dulhazara Safari Park is an up andcoming facility which was founded bythe forest department in part to save alarge piece of land from development.The Safari Park has dramatic waterbodies and vegetation which should beprotected from further construction forthe zoo itself.

The Bangladesh zoo community is veryfortunate to enjoy the voluntary servicesof a retired government Director Generalonce in charge of the zoos. On his owntime, Abdur Razzaque, serves asmentor and liaison for the zoos inhelping insure that both small and largejobs get done in capacity building andgeneral improvement for the zoo.

NepalThere were many private collections inNepal also, belonging to royalty andcolonials but in 1932 Prime MinisterJudha Sumser Janga Bahadur Ranaestablished the Central Zoo with hisown bird collection. The zoo cameunder the Nepal governmentsubsequently and with frequentlytransferred officials did not thrive. Afterits transfer to the King Mahendra Trustfor Nature Conservation and the takingcharge of a long-term director, the zoohas improved steadily.

It remains on a small piece of land butmodern enclosures are replacing oldones on a regular basis and an openzoo is planned on a large, wooded areaoutside the city for the future. TheEducation Programme at Central Zoo issomething of an anomaly in South Asiawith a Friends of the Zoo (FOZ) of over50,000 paying members, includingmany business subscribers andcontributors. It includes a regulareducation and outreach programmeserving the FOZ, schools and otherpublic organisations. The zoo sendsstaff regularly for training andencourages professional development,sometimes unusual in South Asian zooadministration.

Tiger enjoys a nap in its enclosurein Central Zoo, KMTNC, Nepal.

Photo by Sally Walker.

Central Zoo has an excellent educationprogramme including techniques for

convincing people not to tease animals.Photo by Sally Walker.

The first zoo educator training shortcourse organised in Dhaka Zoo. Zoopersonel from other zoos are always

called to Dhaka Zoo events.

Visitors to Dhaka Zoo walk-thru aviary

Scene from beautiful Dulhazara SafariPark near Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Above photos by Sally Walker.

Bangladesh and Nepal

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PakistanPakistan has two of South Asia’s oldestzoos, Lahore (1872) and Karachi(1881). Lahore and several other wildanimal institutions are under theadministrative control of Punjab WildlifeDepartment and have officers from thedepartment to serve in the state’svarious wild animal facilities, which aremany. Recently, the Punjab WildlifeDepartment has received a very largegrant with which it will modernise all itswild animal facilities. Lahore Zoo andthe Punjab Wildlife Department lavishlyhosted the highly successful 5th AnnualSAZARC conference in 2004. WWFPakistan, which also played a big role inthe conference, has been an activepartner in helping the zoos with theireducation programme, deputing atalented educator to work at Lahore zooand mandating her to help other zoos ofPakistan as well. WWF-P along withPWD hosted the first zoo directors’meeting which led to a host of importantevents and trends.

Karachi Zoo also is one of the oldest inPakistan and has been in the processof getting a facelift, adding modernmanagement features as well as newattractions (such as a museum) andrefurbished and updated enclosures.The zoo is under the administrativecontrol of the Karachi MunicipalCorporation which retains directors andstaff for some years rather thanindulging in frequent transfers. As aresult the current Karachi Zoo directorhas been able to make many changes,both dramatic and subtle on asustained basis. Karachi also hasseveral other wild animal facilitiesincluding a very dramatic safari park, amini zoo and an aquarium closed until itcan be rennovated.

Islamabad Zoo in the nations capitalhas undergone many rennovations inthe last few years, with manyimprovements. Recently an officer ofPunjab Wildlife Department who servedfive years at Lahore Zoo has beenposted as director there, which bringsmuch good experience to the zoo.

There is government initiative to have alarge zoo and botanic garden in a large,naturalistic setting outside Islamabadwhich is under the charge of ZoologicalSurvey Department ZSD which is thenodal government agency for fauna.

Pakistan’s 30 odd captive animalfacilities, including zoos, breedingcentres, mini zoos, etc. and their otherconservation organisations (such as

President, SAZARC & Director, Punjab WildlifeDepartment, closes the 5th Annual SAZARC

conference, hosted by PWD and Lahore Zoo.

Director, Lahore Zoo and newly electedPresident SAZARC being interviewed by press.

Lahore Zoo and PWD host a field techniquestraining workshop funded by Chester Zoo.

Lahore Zoo Education Officer reviews neweducation techniques to zoo managementtraining participants at a workshop. Below

Punjab Wildlife personnel at CBSG/RSG mtg.

Director, Karachi Zoo, welcomes Mayor,resource persons, participants and visitors at a

lavish inaugural ceremony for training.

Ungulates drinking at a pond in theKarachi Safari Park.

Karachi Safari Park is an island of wild in thethick of crowded and teeming Karachi City.

Elephants at the Islamabad Zoo which isattractively vegetated, under rennovation and

conveniently sited within the busy city.Photos by Sanjay Molur.

IUCN-P, Pakistan Museum of NaturalHistory, etc.) have proved to be a veryeffective, efficient and enthusiasticpartners in organising training andconservation workshops as well asabsorbing and developing innovationsand practices in zoo and wildlifescience.

Pakistan

20

Sri LankaFormerly a princely state called Ceylon,Sri Lanka has a long history of royaltyand colonial administrators maintaininglarge animal collections as pets orobjects of pride. This is very welldocumented in many letters and bookswritten during the colonial period.

The more modern idea of a zoo for thepublic was operational by 1909 in a livecollection in addition to the museumspecimens. Also early in the century aform of Hagenbeck zoo was started inCeylon run by the famous CarlHagenbeck’s brother John who bothexported and exhibited animals. Whenhe left, he gave some animals to Dehi-wala Zoo which ultimately became theColombo Zoo or Zoological Gardens ofColombo (1986) and ultimately theNational Zoological Gardens under anAct passed in 1982. The NZG Actcovers the administration of the zoosincluding the duties of the director,financial matters pertaining to the zoo,the zoo advisory committee, and the zooproperty. The act also provides regu-lations concerning the safety of visitorsto the zoo and rules of behaviour forvisitors to ensure the animals’ safetyand other regulations.

All Zoological institutions in Sri Lankacome under the Department of NationalZoological Gardens under the centralgovernment of the country for smoothand effective functioning. Presently,there are three institutions functioning

under the department, e.g., the NationalZoo, the Centre for Conservation ofAsian Elephant Orphanage Pinnawala)and the Zoo Farm which provides zooanimal food mainly fruits, vegetable andfoliage. There has been an effort toestablish a modern zoo in Sri Lanka butcould not be embarked on it due to landproblems.

The Department was under the Ministryof Environment and Natural Resourcesuntil October 2005 as were all institu-tions related to in situ and ex situconservation. With the election of a newPresident and forming of the newgovernment the department got promi-nence in the creation of a new ministrycalled “Ministry of Zoological andBotanical Gardens”. It means that thetwo major ex situ conservationinstitutions in Sri Lanka have beenregrouped and put under a ministrywhich is something very unusual ingovernment for zoos. This developmentis groundbreaking. It may affect thefuture for zoological Institutions and exsitu conservation programmes for theentire region. Sri Lanka’s zoos will getpolitical support required for correctdevelopment of zoos and other ex situconservation centers in the country.There is a plan to try and get the wildlifeand forest departments also in theministry thereby brining major in situand ex situ institutions in the countryunder one ministry. Zoo in Dehiwala astheir national zoo. It is one of the mostbeautiful of zoos of any country.

Elephant management training in NZG and agroup of elephants bathing in

Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage

An excellent penguin enclosure withoutstanding graphics and landscaping.

Flamingos greet visitors to NZG when theysee the very first enclosure.

Beautiful vegetation always been a signatureof the National Zoological Gardens Sri Lanka

National Zoological Gardens Sri Lanka was the first in the region to develop a butterfly garden.

Sri LankaPhotos by Sally Walker

South Asian Zoos - how to contactSouth Asia’s Zoo Organisations

South Asian Zoo Association for Regional Cooperation,SAZARC<zooreach@zooreach.org><zoocrew@vsnl.net><sallyrwalker@aol.com>website: www.zooreach.org

Zoo Outreach Organisation ZOO<zooreach@zooreach.org><zoocrew@vsnl.net><sallyrwalker@aol.com><herpinvert@vsnl.com,<icinsa@vsnl.net><marimuthu@zooreach.org>website(s): www.zooreach.org; www.zoosprint.org;www.southasiantaxa.org; www.pterocount.org

Central Zoo Authority CZA<cza@vsnl.com>, <cza@del6.vsnl.net.in>,<cza@ndf.vsnl.net.in><sharmabrijraj@hotmail.com>Website: www.cza.nic.in

Captive Breeding and Zoo Management Cell of the WildlifeInstitute of India<bcc@wii.gov.in>Website : www.wii.gov.in/cells/cbzm/index.htm

South Asian Zoos

Sri LankaNational Zool Gardens <zoosl@slt.lk>Pinnewela Elephant Orphanage <pinnawela@yahoo.com>

BangladeshDhaka Zoo <curator_dhakazoo@yahoo.com><ncbanik53@yahoo.com><ahasan0072003@yahoo.com><azharul72@Yahoo.com><szkhan86@yahoo.com>Chittagong Zoo <mmorshed_vet@yahoo.com>Dulahazara Safari Park <drmalekvet@yahoo.com>Rangpur Zoo Director <aksaha55@yahoo.com>Zoo Outreach Org. Representative for Bangladesh Zoos<rajkanyaSR@gmail.com>, <roadNO05@yahoo.com>

PakistanPunjab Zoos Director <aqmehal@wol.net.pk>Lahore Zoo <director@lahorezoo.com.pk><education_officer@lahorezoo.com.pk>Website: www.lahorezoo.com.pkBawalpur Zoo <ahgill77@yahoo.com>Karachi Zoo <muddassir74@yahoo.com>,<wlb@sat.net.pk>National Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Hamid IqbalJaved <zsd6167@multi.net.pk>Islamabad Zoo <naban54@hotmail.com>Zoo & Wildlife Biologist <ukhan@wwf.org.pk><uzmakhan74@hotmail.com>

NepalCentral Zoo KMTNC <czoo@wlink.com.np><rshah@centralzoo.com.np

Afghanistan(Kabul Zoo Assistance Group) <whitjones75@hotmail.com>,<JAMESH@mayhewanimalhome.org.uk><david.m.jones@ncmail.net>, <nick.lindsay@zsl.org>,<sallyrwalker@aol.com>

BhutanMini-Zoo & Animal Rescue Centre<ropling@druknet.bt>, <karmapling@yahoo.com>

IndiaNational Zoo <delhizoo@vsnl.net>Bhilai Zoo <dubeyganesh@yahoo.co.in>Trivandrum Zoo <museumzoo@sancharnet.in>Arignar Anna Zoo <aazplzoo@md4.vsnl.net.in>Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens<mysorezoo@hotmail.com>Nandankanan Zoo <director_n@hotmail.com><sk_sinha00@yahoo.com>, <zoovetanil@yahoo.com>Calcutta Zoo <calzoo@onlysmart.com>Bombay Zoo <drwani@rediffmail.com>Ahmedabed Zoo <ahmedabadzoo@icenet.net>Coimbatore Zoo <nbrpark@eth.net>J&K Deer Park <mmmnsur@yahoo.com>Hyderabad Zoo <hydzoo@rediffmail.com>Assam State Zoo <ghoshsonali@gmail.com>Pune Zoo <punezoo@vsnl.net>Lucknow Zoo <lucknowzoo@yahoo.com>Port Blair Zoo <cwlw@cal3.vsnl.net.in>, <cwlw@vsnl.com>Venkateshwar Zoo <tirupatizoo@yahoo.co.in>Itanagar WL Sanctuary <chukkuloma@yahoo.co.uk>Goa Bondla Zoo <wildlife@goatelecom.com>Sakkarbaug Zoo <cfwild_ad1@sancharnet.in>Indroda NP <geer@guj.nic.in>JNB Park <bsp.la@rmo.spril.in>Tata Zoo <Tata_zoo@rediffmail.com>Bannerghatta Natl Park <bannerghatta@vsnl.net>GandhiZoo <zoogwl@sancharnet.in>Rajiv Gandhi Zoo <punezoo@vsnl.net>Chennai Snake Park Trust <cspt1972@md5.vsnl.net.in>VOC Park, Coimbatore <cbecorp@vsnl.com>Madras Croc Bank Trust <mcbtindia@vsnl.net>KanpurZoo <hravivarapu@yahoo.com>NainitalZoo <nainitalzoo@rediff.com>Darjeeling Zoo <pnhzp@yahoo.com>Sakkarbaug Zoo, <cfwild@vsnl.com>Van Vihar National Park <dirvvnp@sancharnet.in>