Recognition of
Zoo
Rules, 1992.
1. Short title and commencement :-
(1) These rules may be called the Recognition of Zoo Rules,
1992.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their
publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Definitions :- In these rules, unless the context otherwise
requires,-
(a) "Act" means the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of
1972);
(b) "Enclosure" means any accommodation provided for Zoo
animals;
(c) "Enclosure barrier" means a physical barrier to contain
an animal within an enclosure;
(d) "Endangered species" means species included in Schedule 1
of the Act;
(e) "Form" means form set forth in Appendix-A to these rules;
(f) "Performing purposes" means any effort to force the
animal to carry out unnatural act including performance
of circus tricks;
(g) "Stand-of barrier" means a physical barrier set back
from the outer edge of an enclosure barrier;
(h) "Zoo operator" means the person who has ultimate control
over the affairs of the Zoo provided that-
(i) in the case of a firm or other association of
individuals, any one of the individual partners or
members thereof shall be deemed to be the Zoo
operator;
(ii) in the case of a company, any director, manager,
secretary or other officer, who is in-charge of and
responsible to the company for the affairs of the
Zoo shall be deemed to be the zoo operator;
(iii) in the case of a zoo owned or controlled by the
Central Government or any State Government, or any
local authority, the person or persons appointed to
manage the affairs of the zoo by the Central
Government, the State Government or the local
authority, as the case may be shall be deemed to be
the Zoo operator;
3. Application for recognition :
An application under section 38 H of the Act for recognition
of a zoo shall be made to the Central Zoo Authority in Form-A.
4. Fees for application :
(a) There shall be paid in respect of every of application
under rule 3, a fee of rupees five hundred.
(b) The amount of the fee shall be paid through Demand
Draft/Postal Order(s) in favour of the Central Zoo
Authority, New Delhi.
5. Documents to be filled alongwith the application and
particulars it should contain :
Every application shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee
and shall contain clear particulars as to the matters
specified in Form-A.
6. Power to make inquiries and call for information :
Before granting recognition to a zoo under section 38 H of
the Act, the Central Zoo authority may make such inquiries
and require such further information to be furnished, as it
deems necessary, relating to the information furnished by the
zoo in its application in Form-A.
7. Form of recognition :
The recognition granted to a Zoo shall be subject to the
following conditions, namely :-
(a) that the recognition unless granted on a permanent basis,
shall be for such period not lees than one year as may be
specified in the recognition;
(b) that the zoo shall comply with such standards and norms
as are or may be prescribed or imposed under the
provisions of the Act and these rules from time to time.
8. Renewal of recognition :
(a) Three months before the expiry of te period of
recognition, a recognised zoo desirous of renewal of such
recognition may make an application to the Central Zoo
Authority in Form-A.
(b) The provisions of rules 3, rule 4, rule 5, rule 6 and
rule 7 shall apply in relation to renewal of recognition
as they apply in relation to grant of recognition except
that, the fee payble in respect of an application renewal
of recognition shall be ruppes two hundred.
9. Classification of Zoos :
For the purpose of deciding standards and norms for
recognition of zoos and monitoring and evaluating their
performance, the zoos, on the basis of the area, number of
animals and their variety exhibited, and the number of
visitors, shall be classified into four categories as
specified below :-
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Category of Large Medium Small Mini
the Zoo
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Area of the More than 50-75 20-50 Less than
zoo in hectars 75 hectare hectare 20
hectare hectare
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Number of More than 500-750 200-499 200
animals 750
exhibited
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Animals More than 50-75 20-49 20
variety 75 numbers numbers numbers
exhibited numbers
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Number of More than 10-15 5-9 Less than
endangered 15 5
species
exhibited
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Annual More than 5-7.5 2-5 Less than
attendance 7.5 lakhs lakhs 2
of visitors per
year lakhs lakhs
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10. Standards and norms subject to which recognition under
section 38 H of the Act shall be granted ;
The Central Zoo Authority shall grant recognition with due
regard to the interests of protection and conservation of
wild life, and such standards, norms and other matters as are
specified below :-
General :
(1) The primary objective of operating any zoo shall be
conservation of wildlife and no zoo shall take up any
activity that is inconsistent with the objective.
(2) No zoo shall acquire any animal in violation of the Act
or rules made there under.
(3) No zoo shall allow any animal to be subjected to the
cruelties as defined under the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals Act, 1960 (59 of 1960) or permit any activity
that exposes the animals to unnecessary pain, stress or
provocation, including use of animals for performing
purposes.
(4) No zoo shall use any animal, other than the elephant in
plains and yak in hilly areas for riding purpose or
draughting any vehicle.
(5) No zoo shall keep any animal chained or tethered unless
doing so is essential for its own well being.
(6) No zoo shall exhibit any animal that is seriously sick,
injured or infirm.
(7) Each zoo shall be closed to visitors at least once a
week.
(8) Each zoo shall be encompassed by a perimeter wall at
least two meters high from the ground level. The
existing zoos in the nature of safaries and deer parks
will continue to have chain link fence of appropriate
design and dimensions.
(9) The zoo operators shall provide a clean and healthy
environment in the zoo by planting trees, creating green
belts and providing lawns and flower beds etc.
(10) The built up a area in any zoo shall not exceed twenty
five per cent of the total area of the zoo. The built
up area includes administrative buildings, stores,
hospitals, restaurants, kiosks and visitor rest sheds
etc. animal houses and `pucca' roads.
(11) No zoo shall have the residential complexes for the
staff within the main campus of the zoo. Such complex,
if any, shall be separated from the main campus of the
zoo by a boundary wall with a minimum height of two
meters from the ground level.
Administrative and Staffing Pattern :
(12) Every zoo shall have one full-time officer in-charge of
the zoo. The said officer shall be delegated adequate
administrative and financial powers as may be necessary
for proper upkeep and care of zoo animals.
(13) Every large and medium zoo shall have at least one full-
time curator having the sole responsibility of looking
after the upkeep of animals and maintenance of animal
enclosures.
(14) Each large zoo shall have at least two full-time
veterinarians and medium and small zoo shall have at
least one full-time veterinarian. The mini zoo may at
least have arrangement with any outside veterinarian for
visiting the zoo every-day to look after the animals.
Animal Enclosures-Design, Dimensions and other Essential
Features :
(15) All animal enclosures in a zoo shall be so designed as
to fully ensure the safety of animals, caretakers and
the visitors. Stand of barriers and adequate warning
signs shall be provided for keeping the visitors at a
safe distance from the animals.
(16) All animal enclosures in a zoo shall be so designed as
to meet the full biological requirements of the animals
housed therein. The enclosures shall be of such size as
to ensure that the animals get space for their free
movement and excercise and the animals within herds and
groups are not unduly dominated by individuals. The zoo
operators shall take adequate safeguards to avoid the
animals being unnaturally provoked for the benefit of
viewing by public and excessive stress being caused by
visibility of the animals in the adjoining enclosures.
(17) The zoo operators shall endeavour to simulate the
conditions of the natural habitat of the animal in the
enclosures as closely as possible. Planting of
appropriate species of trees for providing shade and
constructing shelters which would merge in the overall
environment of the enclosures, shall also be provided.
Wherever it is technically feasible, only moats shall be
provided as enclosure barriers.
(18) The enclosures housing the endangered mammalian species,
mentioned in Appendix-I to these rules, shall have
feeding and retiring cubicles/cell of minimum dimensions
given in the said appendix. Each cubicle/cell shall have
resting, feeding, drinking water and excercising
facilities, according to the biological needs of the
species. Proper ventilation and lighting for the comfort
and well being of animals shall be provided in each
cell/cubicle/enclosure.
(19) Proper arrangement of drainage of excess of water and
arrangements for removal of excreta and residual water
from each cell/cubicle/enclosure shall be made.
(20) Designing of any new enclosure for endangered species
shall be finalized in consultation with the Central Zoo
Authority.
Hygiene, Feeding and Upkeep :
(21) Every zoo shall ensure timely supply of wholesome and
unadulterated food in sufficient quantity to each animal
according to the requirement of the individual animals,
so that no animal remains undernourished.
(22) Every Zoo shall provide for a proper waste disposal
system for treating both the solid and liquid wastes
generated in the zoos.
(23) 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.
(24) The zoo operators shall make available round the clock
supply of potable water for drinking purposes in each
cell/enclosure/cubicle.
(25) Periodic application of disinfectants in each enclosure
shall be made according to the directions of the
authorised veterinary officer of the zoo.
Animal Care, Health and Treatment :
(26) The animals shall be handled only by the staff having
experience and training in handling the individual
animals. Every care shall be taken to avoid discomfort,
behavorial stress or physical harm to animal.
(27) The condition and health of all animals in the zoo shall
be checked every day by the person in-charged of their
care. If any animal is found sick, injured, or unduly
stressed the matter shall be reported to the veterinary
officer for providing treatment expeditiously.
(28) Routine examination including parasite checks shall be
carried out regularly and preventive medicines including
vaccination be administered at such intervals as may be
decided by the authorised veterinary officers.
(29) The zoo operators shall arrange for medical check-ups of
the staff responsible for upkeep of animals at least
once in every six months to ensure that they do not have
infections of such diseases that can infect the zoo
animals.
(30) Each zoo shall maintain animal history sheets and
treatment cards in respect of each animal of endangered
species, identified by the Central Zoo Authority.
Veterinary Facilities :
(31) Every large and medium zoo shall have full-fledged
veterinary facilities including a properly equipped
veterinary hospital, basic diagnostic facilities and
comprehensive range of drugs. Each veterinary hospital
shall have isolation and quarantine wards for newly-
arriving animals and sick animals. These wards should be
so located as to minimise the chances of infections
spreading to other animals of the zoo.
(32) Each veterinary hospital shall have facilities for
restraining and handling sick animals including
tranquilizing equipments and syringe projector. The
hospital shall also have a reference library on animal
health care and upkeep.
(33) The small and mini zoos, where full-fledged veterinary
hospital is not available, shall have at least a
treatment room in the premises of the zoo where routine
examination of animals can be undertaken and immediate
treatment can be provided.
(34) Every zoo shall have a post-mortem room. Any animal that
dies in a zoo shall be subjected to a detailed post-
mortem and the findings recorded and maintained for a
period of at least six years.
(35) Each zoo shall have a graveyard where the carcasses of
dead animals can be buried without affecting the hygiene
and the cleanliness of the zoo. The large and medium
zoos shall have an incinerator for disposal of the
carcasses and other refuse material.
Breeding of Animals :
(36) Every zoo shall formulate a programme for captive
breeding of only such animals as are approved by the
Central Zoo Authority for that zoo. They shall abide by
the guidelines and directives of the Central Zoo
Authority in this regard.
(37) Every zoo shall keep the animals in viable, social
groups. No animal will be kept without a mate for a
period exceeding one year unless there is a legitimate
reasons for doing so or if the animal has already
passed its prime and is of no use for breeding purposes.
In the event of a zoo failing to find a mate for any
single animal within this period, the animal shall be
shifted to some other place according to the directions
of the Central Zoo Authority.
(38) No zoo shall be allowed to aquire a single animal of any
variety except when doing so is essential either for
finding a mate for the single animal housed in the said
zoo or for exchange of blood in a captive breeding
group.
(39) Every zoo shall take up regular exchange programmes of
animals so as to prevent the traits or ill effects of
inbreeding. To achieve this objective each zoo shall
maintain a stud book in respect of every endangered
species.
(40) To safeguard against uncontrolled growth in the
population of prolifically breeding animals, every zoo
shall implement appropriate population control measures
like separation of sexes, sterilization, vasectomy,
tubectomy and implanting of pallets etc.
(41) No zoo shall permit hybridization either between
different species of animals or different races of the
same species of animals.
Maintenance of Records and Submission of Inventory to the
Central Zoo Authority :
(42) Every zoo shall keep a record of the birth acquisitions,
sales, disposals and deaths of all animals. The
inventory of the animals housed in each zoo as on 31st
March of every year shall be submitted to the Central
Zoo Authority by 30th April of the same year.
(43) Every zoo shall also submit a brief summary of the death
of animals in the zoo for every financial year,
alongwith the reasons of death identified on the basis
of post-mortem reports and other diagnostic tests, by
30th April of the following year.
(44) Every zoo shall publish an annual report of the
activities of the zoo in respect of each financial
year. The copy of the said annual report shall be maid
available to the Central Zoo Authority, within two
months, after the end of the financial year. The report
shall also be made available to the general public at a
reasonable cost.
Education and Research :
(45) Every enclosure in a zoo shall bear a sign board
displaying scientific information regarding the animals
exhibited in it.
(46) Every zoo shall publish leaflets, brochures and
guidebooks and make the same available to the visitors,
either free of cost or at reasonable price.
(47) Every large and medium zoo shall make arrangements for
recording, in writing, the detailed observations about
the biological behaviour, population dynamics and
veterinary care of the animals exhibited as per
directions of the Central Zoo Authority so that a
detailed database could be developed. The database shall
be exchanged with other zoos as well as the Central Zoo
Authority.
Visitor Facilities :
(48) The zoo operators shall provide adequate civic
facilities like toilets, visitor sheds, and drinking
water points at convenient places in the zoo for
visitors.
(49) First-aid equipments including anti-venom shall be
readily available in the premises of the zoo.
(50) Arrangements shall be made to provide access to the zoo
to disabled visitors including those in the wheel chair.
Development and Planning :
(51) Each zoo shall prepare a long-term master plan for its
development. The zoo shall also prepare a management
plan, giving details of the proposal and activities of
development for next six years. The copies of the said
plans shall be sent to the Central Zoo Authority.
