Central Zoo Authority cautions Odisha over tigress's shifting

The Central Zoo Authority has cautioned Odisha's Forest and Environment Department to consider provisions of the National Zoo Policy, 1998 before taking any decision to shift tigress 'Sundari' to the Nandankanan Zoological Park.

'Sundari' is to be shifted to Nandankanan Zoo as she had allegedly killed at least two persons in the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray has said.

The Central Zoo Authority wrote to the Odisha government in response to a complaint filed by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey who termed the state's decision to transfer the tigress to Nandankanan Zoo as unlawful.

National Zoo Authority Member Secretary D N Singh in a letter to Odisha Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Sandeep Tripathy said, "Except for obtaining founder animals for approved breeding programme and infusion of new blood into inbred groups, no zoo can collect animals from the wild."