PETA approaches CZA over Hydari Park animals transfer

  • 16/09/2008

  • Shillong Times (Shillong)

PETA has approached the Central Zoo of Authority about the transfer of animals and birds from the Lady Hydari Park, Shillong as requested by the State Government, while stating that it cannot keep the inmates on its own. Talking to The Shillong Times, PETA India's Chief Functionary Anuradha Sawhney appreciated the offer of the Forest Department to transfer the animals. Faced with the crisis of manpower, funds and space at Lady Hydari Park, the Government wanted to hand over animals of the mini zoo-cum-park to any organisations including PETA which can take proper care of them till construction of a full-fledged zoo at Umsning, Ri-Bhoi district. The inmates at Lady Hydari Park are not getting proper diet and required attention for various reasons as park authorities are facing fund crunch in addition to shortage of staff. "We appreciated that the Forest Department had decided to shift the animals but we on our own cannot keep them," she said. PETA does not have large shelters for such animals, she added. The problem of upkeep of animals in the State is expected to be largely addressed when the government completes construction of a full-fledged zoo at Umsning, Ri-Bhoi district. The 12th Finance Commission has already sanctioned Rs 19 crore for setting up of the Umsning zoo for which the State Government has allotted 72.74 hectares of land. Construction of the zoo at Umsning will start after approval of the master plan by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) by next year. Earlier, PETA had opposed the setting up of the new zoo, saying the Meghalaya government should first improve the facilities at Lady Hydari Park where the animals are housed at present. The Meghalaya Government was asked to close down the zoo and shift the animals to other zoos following Peta complain to the Supreme Court. The choice of leaving certain species like monkeys, bears and deers in the forest was ruled out since these animals and birds are habituated to human beings and would enter the villages. They will also not survive in the jungles since they have lost their hunting skills and would perish. Hence, the only other option is to shift the fragile species and shift other animals and birds to the new zoo which is coming up in two years time. Ms Sawhney had said that the Government should allocate funds to improve the condition of the animals and birds at Lady Hydari Park rather than establishing a new zoo. But the authorities contended that there are constraints of space in the already crowded state capital. Some species also need top trees which are not able to be planted in the limited space. The State Forest Department recently shifted endangered animals, including a pair of Hoolock gibbons and a Serow to Assam Zoo, following complaints from Peta.