Cameras at zoo to check feeding

There have been complaints regarding the quality and quantity of food given to animals housed in zoos, and the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has decided to keep a visual record of the food.

The CZA has ordered CCTV cameras to be installed for the purpose, with adequate number of personnel to do the monitoring.

The CZA directed the zoos to enhance surveillance in places of procurement, storage, processing and distribution of food for the animals. The CZA ordered zoos to maintain a database that could be inspected by authorised personnel. Zoos have been instructed to inform the central authority about what steps each has taken in this regard.

The Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, has decided to enhance CCTV coverage and establish a command and control centre. The zoo has 64 CCTV cameras at the entry, exits and administrative points. Another

450 will be added to monitor the animals and their food. Every enclosure, night house, and night house cage will be under surveillance.

The Nehru Zoological Park houses 2000 animals and birds that belong to

173 species. The surveillance effort will cost the zoo `5 crore.

Zoo additional conservator of forests Maqsood Mohiuddin said work would be taken after approval is given. “We are going to install PTZ cameras and other tracking devices. We don’t need to worry about the circular as the Hyderabad zoo has always provided good quality and quantity of food to animals” he said.