“There isn’t enough water for the animals and birds and many enclosures, par ticularly the birds’ cage, is horribly crowded,” PAWS founder-trustee Anuradha Ramaswamy told HT. “Species have been mixed in single enclosures. There’s stagnant water everywhere.” Ramaswamy added that PAWS has sent a copy of the report to the central zoo authority in Delhi, civic chief Johny Joseph and the chief wildlife warden (Maharashtra) in Nagpur.

Joseph claims he hasn’t got the report. “But we are trying to renovate the zoo at the earliest. The global expression of interest is already out. As per the plan, there will be open enclosures and natural surrounding for all the animals,” he said.

Superintendent of Gardens P Naringrekar, meanwhile, insisted the animals “are not in bad condition”. “We take good care of them,” he said.

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/Default.aspx- HT Metro-Page 5