PATNA: The proposed animal exchange plan of Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, commonly known as Patna zoo, with Delhi zoo has run into trouble with the city zoo officials raising objections to changes made in the deal.
Under the animal exchange programme of Central Zoo Authority (CZA), Patna zoo had agreed to give one male rhino ‘Ayodhya’ to Delhi zoo in lieu of a female rhino in 2018. However, this approved exchange could not be implemented by the two zoos.
The said proposal was once again revived. However, the CZA unilaterally changed the earlier approved proposal without assigning any reason to Patna zoo. In the letter dated September 29, the CZA removed the transfer of one female rhinoceros from Delhi zoo and now giving six Manipur deer (4 female and two male) in exchange to Patna zoo.
According to Patna zoo officials, the change in animal exchange deal would hamper the cross-breeding cycle of rhino, which would further impact the rhino population in captive in the long run. The zoo presently has 13 rhinos, including six female and seven male. Patna zoo has the second highest number of rhino population in the world after San Diego zoo, USA and highest in the country.
Patna zoo director Amit Kumar said a proposal for exchange of animal came from Delhi zoo. “We agreed to the proposal for exchange of rhino in lieu of another rhino from Delhi zoo. However, changes have been made in the proposal. The paperwork is going on,” he said.
D N Singh, former member secretary of CZA, has raised objection to the changes made in the animal exchange programme and described it as “unethical”. “The whole concept of rhino breeding centre at Patna zoo would collapse. ‘Ayodhya’ is the only rhino in city zoo which is eligible to mate with five female rhinos. While the other male rhino, ‘Ganesh’, can breed with only one female, ‘Lali’, the remaining female rhinos are from the same bloodline,” he said.
Singh said he is emotionally attached with the breeding centre because he was the one who approved the project, designed the structure and sanctioned funds for the same in the capacity of CZA member secretary in 2016.
“Patna zoo is the only zoo in the country having excellent records in the breeding of rhino in captivity over the years. In the recent times, no other zoo in the country is able to breed the rhino in captivity. Keeping in view this factor, the CZA approved setting up of breeding centre in Patna at a cost of Rs 5.5 lakh. The future of this investment would be at risk if the breeding of the rhino is affected due to any immature decision. We need to learn lesson from the past mistakes,” Singh said.
The city zoo was once the pioneer in the captive breeding of the leopard cat. However, breaking of the breeding pairs due to careless transfer of the animals, unfortunate deaths, it now does not have a single leopard cat.
Dipak Kumar Singh, principal secretary of state’s environment, forest and climate change department said the final decision has not been taken yet. “The decision of animal exchange will be taken keeping in view the long-term interest of the zoo,” he told this newspaper.