Alipore Zoological Gardens dying! (C)

Life or Something Like it : Innocence Trapped and Tormented at Alipore Zoo : Wildcats

From the monkeys and birds, when came the section of the wildcats, the encounter was unbearable and extremely heart-breaking.

One of the enclosures had the inmate’s excreta lying in it.

Photo Desc # The wastes of a wildcat present inside his enclosure.

Zoo Rules 1992 states, “Every Zoo shall provide for a proper waste disposal system for treating both the solid and liquid wastes generated in the zoos. All left over food items, animal excreta and rubbish shall be removed from each enclosure regularly and disposed of in a manner congenial to the general cleanliness of the zoo.”

Imagine being locked with your excreta lying around you and you have no place to escape! #

According to Central Zoo Authority, "Shouting, hissing, making faces, throwing things, running in front of the cage, waving sticks - such activities disturb and irritate animals." It also states, "Teasing is a major cause of suffering for zoo animals. Teasing causes mental stress. Even seemingly "harmless" teasing such as snapping fingers at the animals, calling, hissing, or running in front of the cage, may be irritating to the animals."

Apart from that, teasing animals housed in a zoo is prohibited according to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Zoo Rules 1992 states, “The zoo operators shall take adequate safeguards to avoid the animals being unnaturally provoked for the benefit of viewing by public”.

But a huge crowd of visitors were whistling and producing provocative noises at the wildcats to gain their attention who were either asleep or almost motionless in their retiring cubicles. There was no guard vigilant to check this disturbance caused to the animals.

Photo Desc # This is the enclosure of the white tiger.

Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992, mentions, “The zoo operators shall endeavor to simulate the conditions of the natural habitat of the animal in the enclosures as closely as possible.”

The concrete and lack of vegetation does not resemble the white tiger’s natural home in any sense. This dungeon cannot be meant for any innocent living creature. #

Photo Desc # This enclosure houses an African lion.

Such a concrete and non-conducive environment cannot be possibly comfortable for any living creature.The entire area covering the enclosures of the wild cats had the foulest of odors. #

Alipore Zoological Gardens dying! (B)

Life or Something Like it : Innocence Trapped and Tormented at Alipore Zoo : Birds

How do the birds pay for the "conservation" of their own species at the Alipore Zoo?

Starting with the water they drink:

Photo Desc #This water is kept in one of the birds’ enclosures for drinking. #

The quality of drinking water provided as seen above in few of the birds enclosure (for example, the grey parrot) was way below any standard of cleanliness. It was so dirty and old that it had developed whitish growths in it. The health of the bird who had to consume that water every day could be comprehended with much ease. Water is the most basic necessity for any creature to remain alive. Incidentally it is the easiest one to be provided too. It was not tough to grasp how other facilities which might need a little more effort from the authorities would be in the zoo.

The water in the moat around the swan enclosure was not even visible.

Photo Desc # Are the zoo authorities blind? Or is it that they do not care at all for these animals? #

It was totally covered with greenish growths in it. The poor birds had no option but to use the water for drinking and swimming.

The water was not just filthy for the kind of growth floating over it, it was also a dumping ground. (The harards of the presence of plastic in the zoo will be covered in one of the upcoming posts.)

Photo Desc # There is a plastic bottle visibly floating in the water that is being used by a bird. (The hazards of plastic in the lives of the zoo inmates will be covered in one of the upcoming posts.) #

If cleaning the moat was a problem then at least removing the bottle shouldn’t be.

Photo Desc # Dirty water being accessed by a bird.

Poor bird! #

Photo Desc # The enclosure of a bird with nil enrichment.

Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992, mentions, “The zoo operators shall endeavor to simulate the conditions of the natural habitat of the animal in the enclosures as closely as possible.” #

So, why do they suffer to the extent of not even being fortunate enough to get adequately clean water to drink? Is there any other answer than the fact that they do not speak the language of the self-acclaimed most dominent species of nature? Their cries, pain and suffering go unheard and unseen because those who are responsible can never be questioned by them.

Coming up Soon : Alipore Zoological Gardens dying! "Wildcats". Take a look at how the rage of the wild is jailed.

Alipore Zoological Gardens dying! (A)

Life or Something like it:
Innocence Trapped and Tormented at Alipore Zoo : Monkeys

After independence, there was an important pronouncement about zoos in India. It was lawfully decided that there could be just two reasons for the existence and operation of any zoo viz. conservation and education. Theoretically, conservation of animals belonging to endangered species and spreading awareness about wildlife amongst people brings positive feelings towards nature management.

A survey on Alipore Zoological Gardens, however, revealed that the very rudimentary needs for any living creature to stay alive were not provided to the inmates there. The situation was a gruesome sight and a clear contradiction to the mentioned functions of a zoo. It undeniably affronted life itself and zoos to be sources of education seemed a mere hypothesis.

The most agonizing picture was witnessed amongst the monkeys. The cages were dark, dingy, dirty and smelling awfully. The floors were wet and looked slippery, as if had not been cleaned since long.

Photo Desc # Three monkeys kept in a dingy and dirty enclosure (part of the third monkey is seen in the extreme left). The darkness in this picture and the rest of them shows the lack of sunlight in the cages of these creatures.

Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992, mentions, “The zoo operators shall endeavor to simulate the conditions of the natural habitat of the animal in the enclosures as closely as possible.”

Where does the similarity of the natural habitat of these animals lie with where they are being forced to live? #

Photo Desc # Another view of the floor of the confinement of the same enclosure of the three monkeys.

The floor of the enclosure is wet and looked slippery. It was awfully dirty and stinky. It was tough to even stand there for the time it takes for a proper click. #

Due to constant captivity and unnatural surroundings around them, one of them had developed zoochosis, a psychological disorder. Some of them just looked lugubriously out over the crowd.

Photo Desc # This monkey is showing symptoms of zoochosis.
The walls of the enclosure reflect the level of hygiene inside.#

Zoochosis: Many animals, especially the large carnivores, become deeply depressed, even psychotic, as the result of captivity. Symptoms of zoochosis include nervous pacing, head rocking, and self-mutilation. Some of these ‘stereotyped’ behaviours displayed by bored and frustrated animals have their basis in activities that occur naturally in the wild. But in the impoverished confines of captivity, these behaviours can become compulsive and unnatural.

Surprisingly, there were enclosures not open for public viewing yet holding monkeys in them.



Photo Desc # Another enclosure in which two monkeys are kept.
There are adjacent cages behind this one that are not open to public viewing yet they are holding monkeys in them. #



Photo Desc # A row of enclosures holding monkeys in them and not open for public viewing because of this gate.
What purpose are these monkeys serving by leading a life in prisons? #



Coming up soon : Alipore Zoological Gardens dying! "Birds". The state of the birds in the zoo is worse than the monkeys in many ways.