The primary objective to operate the zoo shall be conservation of wildlife and no zoo shall allow any activity that is not consistent with the well being of the wild animals

(2)

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.

(3A)

No zoo shall allow any animal to be subjected to the cruelties prohibited under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (59 of 1960).”;

(3B)

Animals pertaining to species whose performance has been banned under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (59 of 1960), shall not be transported from place to place

       Provided that such animals may be permanently kept by circuses at a place of their choice with suitable housing facility.”;

No zoo shall use any animal, other than the elephant in plains and yak in hilly areas for riding purposes 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)

Each zoo shall be encompassed by a perimeter wall at least two metres high from the ground level. The existing zoos in the nature of safaris 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 area in any zoo shall not exceed twenty five percent 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 twoo metres from the ground level.

(11A)

Every zoo shall prepare a collection plan of animals to be housed and displayed in the zoo, keeping due regard to the availability of land, water, electricity and climatic condition of the area

(11B)

Rescue centres may accept wild animals brought to them under intimation to the Chief Wild Life Warden.”;

Administrative and Staffing Pattern

Every zoo shall have one full-time officer in-charge of the zoo. The said officer shall be delegated adequate administrative and financial powers to purchase feed and medicine and carry out emergency repair of animal enclosures, as may be necessary for proper upkeep and care of zoo animals.

(13)

Every large, medium and small zoo shall have an official with masters degree in Wildlife Science / Zoology as a full time curator solely responsible for 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.

(14A)

Every zoo shall have veterinarians of following description and educational qualifications, namely

Veterinary Officer: B.V.Sc. & AH with diploma in zoo and wildlife animal health care management or masters degree in Wildlife Diseases and Management from a recognised University.

Animal Enclosures - Design, Dimensions and other Essential Features

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 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 exercise and the animals within herds and groups are not unduly dominated by individuals.  In case of species, which cannot be kept in groups due to behavioural or biological reasons, separate enclosures shall be provided for each animal.  The enclosures shall not be smaller than the dimensions given in Appendix II of these rules. These dimensions will not apply to circuses.  However, when not in transit, the circuses shall provide the animals space for movement and exercise,”;

(16A)

Zoo operators shall provide appropriate screening between the adjacent enclosures to safeguard against the animals getting exited or stressed because of the visibility of animals in other 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 shelters, which merge in the overall environment of the enclosures, shall be provided. Depending upon the availability of land and technical feasibility, moat shall be provided as enclosure barrier.

(18)

Every mammal in the zoo shall be provided food inside a feeding cell/ retiring cubicle or feeding kraal.  The number and size of feeding cells or kraals will also be such that the dominant animals do not deprive other animals from getting adequate food.  The endangered mammalian species shall be provided individual feeding cells or night shelters of the dimensions as specified in Appendix I to these rules.  Each cubicle or cell shall have resting, feeding, drinking water and exercising, 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 or cubicle or enclosure.  These dimensions shall not apply to circuses in transit.”;

(19)

Proper arrangement of drainage of excess of water and arrangements for moval of excreta and residual water from each cell / cubicle / enclosures shall be made.

(20)

Designing of any new enclosures for endangered species shall be finalized with the approval of 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, animals 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

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, behavioural stress or physical harm to any animal.

(27)

The condition and health of all animals in the zoo shall be checked every day by the person in-charge 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 administrated 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 a full-fledged veterinary unit with basic diagnostic facilities, comprehensive range of drugs and a reference library on animal health care and upkeep.  Each veterinary unit shall have isolation and quarantine wards to take care of newly arriving animals and sick animals as to minimize the chances of infections spreading to other animals of the zoo.”;

(31A)

Every zoo operator shall provide one qualified lab assistant / compounder for assisting the veterinarian in health care of the zoo animals

(32)

Every zoo shall have facilities for restraining and handling wild animals.”

(33)

The small and mini zoos where full-fledged veterinary unit 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)

Any animal that dies in a zoo shall be subjected to a detailed post-mortem operation by a Veterinarian registered with State Veterinary Council or Veterinary Council of India and the findings of such operation shall be recorded and maintained for period of at least six years.

(35)

Each zoo shall have proper facility for disposal of carcasses without affecting the hygiene of the zoo. However, carcasses of large cats shall be disposed off only by burning in presence of director or an officer not bellow the rank of a curator duly authorised by the director.

Breeding of Animals

(36)

Every zoo shall keep in its collection only such number of animals and such species for which appropriate housing facility exists. The zoo operators shall be responsible for ensuring that the number of animals of any species does not go beyond the holding capacity of the enclosures available in the zoo and housing standards are not compromised for keeping the excessive numbers

(37)

No animal shall be kept without a mate for a period exceeding one year unless there is a valid reason for doing so or 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 acquire a single animal of any variety except when doing so is essential either for finding a mate for the exchange of blood in a captive breeding group.

(39)

Every zoo shall participate in planned breeding programme of endangered species as approved by the Central Zoo Authority in consultation with the Chief Wild Life Warden of the State.  For this purpose, the zoo operator shall exchange animals between zoos, by way of breeding loans, gifts and the like as per the directions of the Central Zoo Authority.”;.

(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 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, along with the reasons of death identified on the basis of post-mortem reports and other diagnostic tests, by 30th April of the following year. In case of death of critically endangered species, a report along with details specified above shall be submitted to Central Zoo Authority Within twenty four hours.

(44)

Every zoo shall submit an annual report of the activities of the zoo in respect of each financial year to the Central Zoo Authority. With respect to mini zoos, a consolidated report may be submitted by the Chief Wild Life Warden of the respective state/U.T.

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 a 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 Central Zoo Authority.

Visitors 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 antivenom 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 detailed 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.