Recognition of Zoo (Amendment), Rules, 2004

An excerpt from Central Zoo Authority -

1.    Short title and commencement

G.S.R.520 (E) - In exercise of the power conferred by clauses (g) of sub-section (1) of section 63 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 1972), the Central Government hereby makes following rules to amend the 'Recognition of zoo Rules, 1992', namely:-

a. These rules may be called the Recognition of Zoo (Amendment) Rules, 2004.

b. They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official   Gazette.

2.    Definition –

In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires:

a.      "Act" means the Wildlife (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 I and Schedule II of the Act except black buck.

     Critically endangered species’ means an endangered species other than tiger, Asiatic lion and panther whose total number in all the zoos in the country put together does not exceed 200

(Please See: Wildlife Resource Section ŕ Animal under Schedule - I and Schedule - II of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972)

e.      "Form" means Form A

f.       "Performing purposes" means any efforts 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 individual, 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 38H 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 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 favor of the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi.

5. Documents to be filed along with 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 38H 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 less 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

c.     Three months before the expiry of the period of recognition, a recognised zoo desirous of renewal of such recognition may make an application to the Central Zoo Authority in Form A

d.      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 pay able in respect of an application for renewal of recognition shall be rupees two hundred.

9. Classification of Zoos

 10. Standards and norms subject to which recognition under section 38H of the Act shall be granted

(Please See Central Zoo Authority information and extracts from their website - Part III)

Appendix I – Minimum Prescribed size for feeding/retiring cubicles

Appendix II – Minimum Prescribed size for outdoor open enclosures

10A Applicability of rule 10 in case of circuses and rescue centres

1.      In case of grant of recognition to circuses under rule 10, the provisions of clauses (8), (9), (10), (11), (17), (46), (47) and (51) thereof shall not apply.

2.      In case of grant of recognition to Rescue centres under rule 10, the provisions of clauses (10), (38), (46) and (51) thereof shall not apply.”;