COIMBATORE — Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, chaired the 46th meeting of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) today in Coimbatore. The high-level governing body reviewed key operational achievements and charted strategic developmental priorities for Indian zoos for the financial year 2026-27.
The meeting focused heavily on modernizing existing national facilities, deploying advanced reproductive technologies, and scaling up wildlife healthcare frameworks across the country.
1. Core Policy Deliberations and Strategic Focus
The governing body evaluated several critical policy frameworks and scientific concept papers designed to elevate Indian zoological parks into premier centers for research and conservation:
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Animal Biobank Network: The committee reviewed a milestone concept note submitted by CCMB-LaCONES to build a nationwide network of animal biobanks. This initiative will leverage advanced reproductive technologies to directly aid conservation breeding programs for endangered species.
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National Wildlife Health Policy: A newly drafted concept paper was introduced to outline a structured national policy addressing emerging global challenges in wildlife health management.
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Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE-Zoos): The CZA reviewed data from the second cycle of the MEE process, which was completed across facilities by six independent expert evaluation teams.
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Resource Mobilization & CSR: The board analyzed a comprehensive committee report detailing guidelines for utilizing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to upgrade zoo infrastructure and animal welfare.
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Exotic Species Enforcement: Operational strategies were discussed to strictly enforce legal provisions against the unauthorized possession and public display of non-native wild animals listed under CITES appendices.
2. Infrastructure Modernization and Operational Standards
To uniformize safety and operational efficiency across all states, the CZA cleared plans to formalize standard operating protocols for personnel and upgrade landmark installations:
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SOPs for Personnel: The authority finalized dedicated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) tailored for zoo veterinarians and animal handlers to minimize risk and optimize clinical outcomes.
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National Zoological Park Upgrade: The meeting thoroughly reviewed pending modernization proposals and master plans specifically aimed at upgrading the infrastructure of the National Zoological Park in New Delhi.
Publications Released: During the session, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav officially released the Central Zoo Authority’s latest newsletter. The publication documents recent national milestones in conservation breeding, field capacity building, and scientific wildlife data management.
