Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey has written to Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav demanding an independent probe into irregularities at Delhi Zoo, including tree felling, ticket fraud, and negligence causing deaths of endangered species. The call comes weeks after allegations that a jackal was burnt alive by staff, which the zoo denies, with an investigation underway. Dubey accuses the zoo of violating multiple laws.
Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey wrote to Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav on January 24, highlighting multiple irregularities at Delhi Zoo and calling for an immediate independent inquiry. He alleged the illegal felling of nearly 100 trees last year, black marketing of tickets, and the use of untrained multi-tasking staff in animal enclosures. Dubey claimed the zoo is breaching the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, and Central Zoo Authority guidelines.
The letter follows recent allegations by the National Zoo Workers’ Union that a jackal, which escaped and hid in the Himalayan Black Bear enclosure, was burnt alive by staff attempting to capture it. The zoo has denied these claims, but an internal probe led by the joint director—a subordinate of the zoo director—raises concerns of conflict of interest, according to Dubey. He urged the ministry and CZA to order a time-bound external investigation and suspend the zoo director and implicated staff.
Dubey pointed to recent deaths of schedule-I endangered animals, attributing some to staff negligence, such as the unauthorized use of rat poison that allegedly killed three Chowsingha (four-horned antelopes). He sought accountability for the deaths of an Indian rhinoceros, blackbuck, and the African elephant Shankar. The zoo director, CZA, and Union ministry did not respond to requests for comment from Hindustan Times. A report on the jackal incident is expected next week.
