worst zoo in the world
The worst zoo in the world? Delhi’s National Zoological Park is once again in the spotlight after a string of animal deaths exposes its crumbling infrastructure. In just one month, two zebra finches, five of six tiger cubs, and the African elephant Shankar died inside its walls.
Zoo director Sanjeet Kumar dismissed the tiger cub deaths as “natural,” but the truth is clear: delayed diagnoses and lack of critical care facilities sealed their fate. Again. The elephant’s sudden death only sharpened the focus on a decades-old hospital with no modern equipment and just one veterinary officer for hundreds of animals. How is this possible for a zoo with this reputation?
This so-called “national” zoo (a shame for each Indian citizen) depends on daily-wage workers and sends samples to labs in Bhopal and Bareilly because it lacks in-house postmortem or testing. Promises of Rs 500–600 crore (USD 60–72 million) for a new facility remain buried in bureaucracy – what kind of management is this?
Captivity itself worsens the problem. Stress weakens immunity, ensuring disease spreads faster. The result? A steady death list. Another example why zoos and tigers can never mix.
The worst zoo in the world article:
Based on Tribune India, India.
Photo via Tribune India.
