Bengal: Alipore, Oldest Zoological Park in Asia, Under Scanner for Wildlife Trafficking

Kolkata: Huge discrepancies have been unearthed recently in the number of livestock of endangered animals in Alipore zoo, the oldest zoological garden in India. 

According to data furnished by the West Bengal Zoo Authority to the Central Zoo Authority, there has been a marked shortfall in the opening and closing balance of the number of livestock in the zoo.

As on April 1, 2024, the opening balance was shown as 351, while on the previous financial year’s last day, March 31, 2024, the closing balance was 672. What happened to these 321 animals is not known, as per reports.

Similarly, earlier there were about 60 zoological gardens in the state, out of which barring seven, all have been denotified. What happened to the animal stock of all these zoos is also not known state. The market value of these “disappeared” animal is estimated at over Rs 10 crore in “shady markets”, say several wildlife observers. This is giving rise to speculation if these animals have fallen into the wrong hands.

The seven approved zoos in Weste Bengal are:

1. Alipore Zoological Garden, Kolkata.

2. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling.

3. Bardhaman Zoological Park (Ramnabagan Mini Zoo.

4. Gar Chumuk (Ulughata) Deer Park, Howrah.

5. Harinalaya at Eco Park (Nature Park At Taratola Road) New Town, Kolkata.

6. Rasikbeel Mini Zoo, Cooch Behar.

7. Surulia Mini Zoo, Purulia.

There is also a Bengal Safari Park at Siliguri, which is in private hands. As per the country’s animal handling norms, transferring animals to private hands is a violation. Meanwhile, the state minister concerned, Birbaha Hansda, told the media recently that some animals had arrived at the Bengal Safari Park from the Alipore Zoo, reportedly at a “hefty price”. If true, this would be a violation of  the wildlife Act,  say wildlife conservationists.

The “disappearance” of animals from the Alipore Zoo has also raised speculation whether the zoo authorities have transferred animals to the Ambani private zoo in Gujarat.

 Meanwhile, Swajan, an organisation of concerned citizens, has filed a public interest litigation in Calcutta High Court, alleging irregularities in the zoo, and attempts to sell away zoo land to industrialists for real estate purposes.

The Alipore Zoological Garden is situated on 45 acres of prime land in the heart of the city, in a posh locality called Alipore. It boasts unmatched greenery and a large water body that attracts thousands of migratory birds every year. The market value of the land runs into to several thousand crore.

Bittu Sehgal, a noted environmentalist, conservator and editor of Sanctuary Asia magazine, told NewsClick, “For several decades, we have been demanding that all zoos in India, large or small, should make their birth and death register publicly available. This has not been done. As a result, the public has no way of finding out how many animals have been added through reproduction and how many have been spirited away to feed the wildlife trade.”

Across the world, several zoos are known to be sources for the illegal trade in wildlife, including endangered species. such as tigers.

This may not be the case in Kolkata. However, in public interest, it would be appropriate not just for the Alipore zoo, but all major and minor zoos in India to be ordered to reveal data from their records for at least the past three decades so that a trend may be established and appropriate action taken by the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change, he added.

Another wildlife activist, who did not wish to be named, alleged that trade of internal organs, such as nails, claws, teeth of endangered animals had reached an alarming state and the Interpol was already investigating it.

“Globally zoos are most potential places from where wildlife trafficking is done. What has happened regarding the missing animals of Alipore zoo must be thoroughly looked into,” the activist added.

Actor Deepti Bhatnagar, who is also a wildlife enthusiast, said it was pathetic that these sort of allegations are being raised with regard to the prestigious Alipore zoo in Kolkata.

“I am against all sorts of confinement of innocent animals, including endangered species. There should be no zoo…. Hence, I am completely taken aback by this recent development,” she told NewsClick.

Expressing similar concerns, Naba Dutta, another noted environmentalist, said “these developments (“missing animals”) pose a threat to the biodiversity of the country and the chances of trafficking animals for profit seem high. Wildlife experts of our organisation will be consulted. This is a dangerous thing. We will create a movement on this in the coming days. The state forest minister should be held responsible. There is lack of clarity in the zoo operations.”  

Sourav Chakraborty, an environment and science activist, who is also the national working committee member of the All-India Peoples Science Network, said the enormity of the “missing animals” should make national headlines. 

“As per reports we have, in March 31, 2021-22, about 58 endangered animals were missing. Cases of 257 missing animals were also reported in 2016-. The Alipore Zoo Authority is headed by the chief conservator of forests. But it is now turning prone to crime. The zoo authority is traversing the Wildlife Protection Act ,1972. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is not working at all. We are signatories to the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species of Wildlife, Flora and Fauna. Also, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act -1960, and several other Act are also there. Within the Constitution, too, there are safeguards to protect wildlife. Is Alipore Zoo now a part of an international racket? All these questions are need answers. Is Alipore Zoo land being offered to land sharks?” he alleged.

Mahalaya Chatterjee of the urban economics department in Calcutta University, who is also associated with Swajan, alleged that “a crime is being committed with the motive of disbanding the Alipore Zoo and handing it over to real estate sharks. Already a part of the zoo land has been hived off for real estate. Our PIL is against this. The auditorium in the zoo, named after Rambrahma Sanyal, its first director, has been dismantled, along with the zoo hospital. In its place, a high-rise is coming up in the zoo premises”.

She questioned, “Zoo land is forest land. How can the nature of the land be changed? Without the hospital, the zoo will be downgraded, as a zoo of Alipore Zoological Garden’s size should have its own hospital, as per the Central Zoo Authority guidelines.”