Animals starve in this zoo

Animals starve in this zoo
SRIMOY KAR

BHUBANESWAR, MAY 11: Non-finalisation of the tenders this year for supplying food to the Nandankanan Biological Park has led to animals being underfed here.

The crisis has forced the park authorities to purchase the food from open market on a daily basis at a much higher price thus incurring heavy loss. Some of the rare animals and birds are already showing signs of ailments due to malnutrition.

Billed as one of the finest biological parks in the country, Nandankanan, on the outskirts of the city, has been going through a rough patch since October 29 last after the super cyclone devastated it. It remained closed for six months and was reopened to the public recently.

The present crisis over food supply has arisen following refusal of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), who is also the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State, to finalsie the tenders on the ground that it is the job of the Government. The Government contends that powers to finalise the tenders are vested with the PCCF. While the official wrangling over the procedures continue, not much attempt has been made to end the impasse.

Built over an area of nearly 15 sq km, the park has 547 mammals, 313 birds and 84 reptiles. This is the position after 65 mammals, 80 birds and 32 reptiles either died or escaped during the super cyclone. About Rs 70 lakh is spent annually on their feed and as many as 85 items are supplied daily.

Though the matter has been brought to the notice of the State Government several times in the last 40 days and review meetings held to resolve the crisis, the only positive development so far has been part finalisation of the tenders for the carnivora section. A tender worth Rs 27 lakh has been finalised for supply of beef.

Forest Minister A P Singh though stated that animals at Nandankanan are not underfed, he admitted that the crisis over the non-finalisation of tenders will be sorted out within a week.