Zoo workers’ union accuses authorities of mismanagement

New Delhi

The National Zoo Workers’ union in Delhi on Wednesday accused the National Zoological Park authorities of mismanagement, pointing to the exploitation of workers, with non-technical staff without advanced training being roped in to handle animals, leading to their ill health.

“Taking care of animals is a matter of expertise. For many months, the multi-tasking staff of the non-technical category has been roped in to take care of animals, despite protests by the staff highlighting the lack of training and expertise. The staff is given overall training at the time of joining, but if one has to take care of lions, tigers, and elephants, special skills are required. Technical staff have not been hired, and non-technical staff have been roped in to do these life-endangering jobs,” said National Zoo Workers’ Union general secretary, Rakesh Bhadauria.

While animals like a rock python and two chausingha’s have been reported to have died in the last month, the allegations of burning the bodies of jackals that crossed the zoo fence months ago have sparked outrage, with the workers’ union explaining the burning incident to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in a letter. When asked, the zoo director said no such incidents were reported to him.

Short-staffed

Besides the numerous administrative lapses and allegations of mismanagement, the union also flagged the shortage of zoo staff.
“The sanctioned strength of workers at the zoo is 203. Currently, there are 106 workers, almost half the sanctioned strength. This creates a huge workload where each staff member has to handle at least two beats,” said Mr. Bhadouria.