Delhi Zoo: Delhi Zoo’s WAZA Membership Suspended Over Elephant Welfare Concerns | Delhi News

NEW DELHI: The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) has suspended the membership of Delhi zoo for failing to take care of the solitary African elephant named Shankar, which was previously chained for a long time due to aggressive behaviour. The elephant, however, was unfettered in June this year and zoo officials claimed it was free in its enclosure.WAZA also warned India’s Central Zoo Authority (CZA) on Monday of loss of membership if it didn’t comply with the world body’s 2023 animal welfare goals by Nov 30, which include putting in place animal welfare evaluation processes based on agreed welfare standards and their enforcement.
Delhi zoo also falls under CZA, which is a statutory body under the Union environment ministry. It enforces minimum standards and norms for the upkeep and healthcare of animals in zoos across India and controls the development of unplanned and ill-conceived zoos. Every zoo in the country is required to obtain recognition from CZA for its operation.
A global alliance of zoos and institutions with over 400 members, WAZA has given the National Zoological Park, as Delhi zoo is officially called, six months till April 7 next year to comply with its code of ethics. “The concern pertains to the welfare of a solitary male African elephant, Shankar, who was reportedly restrained with chains at the New Delhi Zoo. Following a thorough review of this case, the WAZA Council has voted to immediately suspend the WAZA membership of the National Zoological Park New Delhi,” said a letter from WAZA.
The letter said that to have the suspension lifted, Delhi zoo had to develop and implement a plan within six months to relocate Shankar to a new facility or address the concerns related to its current management. WAZA asked the zoo to share the plan for review and approval. In case of relocation, the zoo must begin preparing Shankar, “focusing on positive reinforcement techniques to minimise stress and ensure a smooth transition”.
WAZA added, “If, after six months, the New Delhi Zoo doesn’t have a plan to relocate Shankar approved by WAZA or address the concerns within a clearly defined timeframe, its WAZA membership will be terminated. As of 8 October 2024, the National Zoological Park in New Delhi is officially classified as suspended, and all WAZA membership rights and benefits will be discontinued.”
The African elephant arrived at Delhi Zoo in 1998 as a diplomatic gift from Zimbabwe to India. His partner, Bombai, also an African elephant, died in 2005, and since then, Shankar has been the lone representative of the species at the zoo. In June, Shankar, around 29 years old, was tranquillised for health assessment and the removal of chains. During musth last year, the elephant had become aggressive, damaging a wall and hurting itself, forcing the zoo staff to tether it. The staff insisted on Monday that Shankar was responding well to the therapies and currently remained unchained in its enclosure.
The zoo authorities said they were looking into the WAZA suspension. “Action deemed proper will be taken and a compliance report will be sent,” said Sujit Kumar, director, Delhi Zoo. Sanjay Shukla, member-secretary, CZA, added, “We have a confirmed arrangement to bring a female African elephant from Botswana for Shankar’s company.”
Meanwhile, following the caution from WAZA, the Union environment ministry claimed on Monday that the work on meeting animal welfare goals was in progress and CZA would meet the Nov 30 deadline. “CZA is in the process of aligning its framework for animal welfare evaluation programmes with the standards agreed upon by WAZA. The peer review is in progress and CZA will comply by the deadline,” the ministry said.
In practical terms, if CZA were to lose its membership, all nine WAZA institutional members located in India would no longer be in compliance with the global body’s bylaws, resulting in the termination of their membership as well. “If these institutions would ever want to rejoin WAZA after gaining full institutional membership of another WAZA association member, they would have to re-apply for WAZA membership and undergo the full new member process,” explained the letter from the global body.
WAZA also requested CZA to have an “urgent meeting within the next 10 days” to discuss the matter further and explore how the global body could support the Indian agency in meeting its deadline.