Delhi Zoo to upgrade wildlife hospital, rescue centre; biologist hired to boost animal care

Delhi: The National Zoological Park is planning to modernise its veterinary hospital and strengthen animal healthcare and wildlife management, an official said on Friday. To achieve this, the zoo has appointed a biologist and introduced advanced diagnostic equipment and scientific feeding practices.

The existing veterinary hospital will be expanded into a modern facility equipped with an operating theatre, a post-mortem room, a laboratory, and a maternity and neonatal ward. The official said a dedicated rescue centre and an education centre will also be developed to strengthen wildlife treatment, rehabilitation and public awareness.

The zoo has appointed a biologist and an education assistant to study animal behaviour, analyse welfare practices and suggest measures to modernise animal care and improve the management of enclosures and captive wildlife.

The official said around 12 interns have joined the zoo to observe animal behaviour and assist the scientific team. He said their observations will help identify behavioural changes and assess what additional improvements can be made to the animals’ habitat, enrichment and overall welfare.

The zoo has simultaneously upgraded its veterinary facilities by installing a serum analyser, advanced surgical equipment and newborn incubators, he said. The new equipment will allow veterinarians to conduct several diagnostic tests within the zoo itself instead of sending animals elsewhere for examination.

“Earlier, certain diagnostic procedures required animals to be taken outside the zoo, resulting in delays before treatment could begin. With the new facilities in place, veterinarians will be able to diagnose illnesses more quickly and provide timely medical care,” the official said.

The authority has introduced weighing machines across feeding centres and enclosures to ensure animals receive food in the right quantity, as previously, caregivers distributed feed without measuring it, which sometimes resulted in leftovers or overfeeding, he explained.

He said the new system will help provide balanced nutrition according to each animal’s dietary needs.

As part of the overhaul of its feeding practices, the zoo has also started testing the quality of animal feed and introduced separate steel containers for transporting food meant for different species, he said, adding that food was earlier carried in gunny or jute bags, which could affect hygiene and the quality of the feed.

According to the official, meat for carnivorous animals is now stored in temperature-controlled cooling rooms where it remains chilled but not frozen before feeding.

“Fresh meat is procured every morning and kept under controlled conditions so that it remains safe for consumption without losing its freshness, particularly during the summer months,” he said.

He said the slew of measures aims to bring the zoo’s animal healthcare, nutrition and scientific management systems in line with modern standards. A combination of upgraded veterinary facilities, scientific monitoring and improved feeding practices is expected to enhance the overall health and welfare of the animals housed at the zoo.