Central Zoo Authority has asked the civic body to submit a report over the incident and the post-mortem report within 8 days
Eight Humboldt penguins arrived in July from Seoul’s Coex Aquarium. File pic
After the death of a Humboldt penguin in Byculla zoo, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has finally sought an explanation over the incident from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The move came after the Humane Society International (HSI) India complained against the mismanagement and poor handling of penguins in the zoo.
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According to the letter dated October 28, the CZA directed the zoo authority to submit a detailed report on the incident, as well as the post-mortem report on the dead penguin within seven days of receiving the letter. It has also sought an explanation on poor facilities.
Time for answers
Out of the eight Humboldt penguins brought to the city this July, on October 23, a female penguin aged 1.5 years died after being ill for five days due to a bacterial infection in the intestine.
The letter states that the HSI has raised serious questions over the penguin project and pointed out violation of CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species in Wild Flora and Fauna) norms, such as the death due to septicemia while in quarantine indicated poor standards of care by the zoo.
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“There is a doubt whether Seoul’s Coex Aquarium is registered by CITES for captive breeding facility and whether the BMC had all the requisite permissions for importing the animals,” CZA’s letter adds.
Expert speak
Speaking to mid-day, managing director of HSI India NG Jaysimha said, “This particular penguin comes under CITES appendix 1 species, declared vulnerable by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Appendix 1 species can’t be traded for commercial purposes. It seems the BMC violated all norms.”
“The CITES is the main culprit here, as it was their responsibility to check all the arrangements, but no one from the body turned up on the site, and instead, passed the buck on to the CZA,” he added.
Read Story: Mumbai: Humboldt penguin dies at Byculla Zoo after digestive complications
HSI India wrote to CZA member-secretary Dr DN Singh in Delhi on October 25, seeking intervention in the matter.
Byculla zoo director Dr Sanjay Tripathi said, “Yes, we have got the letter from CZA. We are going to submit our reply as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, even as other parties demand that the penguins be sent back to Seoul, the Shiv Sena is keen to put the birds on exhibition by December.
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