Animals

Delhi Zoo partners with Vantara to strengthen animal care, staff training

The National Zoological Park in Delhi is set to collaborate with animal welfare organisation Vantara in a move aimed at improving animal care, staff training and overall management of the zoo. "This initiative aims to strengthen the zoo's operations and transform it into a more meaningful and enriching experience for the people of Delhi," Vantara CEO Vivaan Karani said. The collaboration aims to support animal care through shared resources, scientific expertise, and modern facilities, officials said in a statement. It is designed to combine the strengths of the public institution with Vantara's specialised knowledge in animal welfare, it stated. The agreement has drawn criticism from some quarters, with a few alleging it is a step towards privatisation. However, a statement from Vantara said the partnership does not transfer any ownership or administrative control and is strictly focused on collaborative efforts. "It reflects a forward-thinking move by the Delhi government to bring

Advent to invest $175 million in animal health drugmaker Felix Pharma

The deal, which includes both primary and secondary transactions, positions Felix to accelerate its global ambitions as a differentiated player in the nascent but expanding companion animal generics

Rajasthan to start registration process for animal insurance scheme

The scheme, announced in the state's 2025 budget, aims to provide financial assistance in case of accidental death of livestock animals

Delhi Zoo to sign MoU with Vantara, Congress raises privatisation fears

The agreement will be a 'knowledge-sharing partnership' between the Delhi NZP, GZRRC, and the Gujarat government, a senior official said

Two South African cheetahs released in MP's Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

More to come from Botswana; wildlife activists oppose keeping 2 sub-species together

The 'de-extinction' of the dire wolf could be both a gift and a curse

Despite its potential for conservation, questions around the consequences of resurrecting extinct species remain

We must show kindness, compassion towards animals: Former CJI Chandrachud

Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has called upon people to show kindness towards animals and embrace a more compassionate way of living. Speaking at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India's 25th-anniversary celebration, which featured a Beatles-themed brunch, Chandrachud praised the organisation's efforts in advocating for animal rights and promoting veganism. He highlighted the importance of recognising animals as sentient beings and urged people to extend kindness to them. "PETA India has done remarkable work in the last 25 years, and what began as just a small movement has now spread its wings across India and beyond. We recognise that we have an important role in spreading compassion, love, and kindness, and remember that the other species on this planet have so much to teach us," Chandrachud said. The event also featured a talk by Ingrid Newkirk, the founder of PETA entities worldwide, who emphasised the need to acknowledge the suffering of animal

Delhi CM orders large-scale cleanliness drive, stray animal management

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has directed officials to launch a large-scale cleanliness drive across the city, remove illegal advertisements from public spaces and implement special measures to manage stray animals. On Wednesday, Gupta held a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat to review the city's cleanliness, civic infrastructure and public amenities, a statement said, adding that the discussion focused on issues such as stray animals, potholes, dust pollution, sewer blockages and illegal advertisements on public properties. Senior officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) were present at the meeting, the statement said. During the meeting, the chief minister directed the MCD to ensure that all officials, from the commissioner to junior engineers, conduct regular field inspections. She emphasised that each officer must visit ..

Cabinet nod to livestock disease control programme with Rs 3,880 cr outlay

The scheme aims to improve the animal health sector by implementing prophylactic vaccination programmes against various diseases of livestock and poultry

Over two years on, Kuno's cheetahs still play a losing Hunger Game

Vanishing prey and fierce competition from leopards keep cheetahs on edge

Zoo breeding programmes face poor management, funding woes, says govt panel

While India's zoos have made "notable" progress in breeding endangered species under conservation programmes that started around a decade ago, a government panel says that persistent gaps in execution, funding and species management hinder their overall success. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA), which is responsible for overseeing and guiding national-level ex situ conservation efforts, constituted a committee in 2023 to review and evaluate the state of conservation breeding programmes in zoos across the country. In 2007, the CZA selected 74 species for breeding in 43 zoos. By 2014, 26 high-priority species were shortlisted and breeding programmes began for 23. According to the report of the committee submitted to the CZA recently, while India's zoos have made "notable progress in housing and breeding several endangered species, the overall effectiveness of conservation breeding programmes is hindered by persistent foundational and operational challenges". "Addressing these issues w

Biovet's LSD vaccine gets CDSCO nod, to make 500 million doses per year

In the last two years, around 200,000 cattle have died, millions lost their milk production capabilities due to LSD nationwide

Animal transports banned in German state as foot-and-mouth disease detected

Animal transports were banned in a state surrounding Berlin on Saturday and the capital's two zoos closed as a precaution after foot-and-mouth disease was detected in a buffalo herd just outside the city, Germany's first outbreak for more than 35 years. Authorities in Brandenburg state, which surrounds Berlin, said on Friday that a farmer found three of a 14-strong herd of water buffalo dead in Hoenow, just outside the capital's city limits. Germany's national animal health institute confirmed that foot-and-mouth disease had been detected in samples from one animal, and the rest of the herd was slaughtered. It wasn't clear how the animals were infected. A 72-hour ban on transporting cows, pigs, sheep, goats and other animals such as camels and llamas in Brandenburg went into force Saturday. Berlin's two zoos closed starting Saturday as a preventive measure. Their management noted in a statement that while the virus isn't dangerous to humans, it can stick to their clothing and be ...

In Odisha, dogs attacked 777 people daily in 22 months: Govt data

Odisha recorded over 5.20 lakh dog bite cases between January 2023 and October 2024, according to data provided by the state government in the Assembly on Wednesday. This means stray canines or domesticated ones have targeted an average of 777 individuals every day during that period. In a written reply to a question from Rayagada MLA Kadraka Appala Swamy of the Congress, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik said that a total of 5,20,237 dog bite cases were reported in Odisha during those 22 months. While 2,59,107 dog bite cases were reported during 2023, 2,43,565 such cases were recorded from January to October of 2024. The maximum number of such cases at 33,547, 32,561 and 29,801 were reported during January, February and March of 2024, respectively. According to the 2019 Livestock Census, Odisha has 17.34 lakh stray dogs. Following the Animal Birth Control Rule, 2023, municipalities and urban local bodies are implementing the Animal Birth Cont

Pets shop in Delhi to face closure if fail to register with animal board

All pet shops and dog breeding centres in the national capital have to register with the Delhi Animal Welfare Board within one month or face closure for non-compliance, according to a public notice. The move comes in the wake of the Delhi High Court order to ensure accountability and compliance with the laws of the land, and has been welcomed by animal rights activists. In its public notice dated November 6, the Delhi Animal Welfare Board has mandated that all pet shops and dog breeding centres in the National Capital Territory of Delhi register their establishments within one month. Failure to comply will result in the shutdown of non-registered establishments, as per rules outlined in the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, 2017, and the Pet Shop Rules, 2018, both under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, it said. The Board has enabled online registration via the e-district portal for ease of access, the notice reads. The move is aimed at bolstering animal welfare and

Extinction of Haast's eagle: The largest eagle that lived 500 years ago

The South Island of New Zealand was once home to the extinct Haast's eagle, also called Hieraaetus moorei. Weighing about 10-18 kilos (22-40 pounds), it is the largest eagle to ever exist

Centre unveils standard treatment guidelines for livestock, poultry

They discourage excessive use of antibiotics in poultry and livestock

Villagers beat leopard to death after it attacks 55-yr old man in Udaipur

A leopard was beaten to death by villagers after it attacked a 55-year-old man in Udaipur district of Rajasthan on Friday, police said. The incident occurred in Sayra area in the early hours when the leopard attacked Devaram's cattle outside his house, they said. According to police, when he opened the gate to check on the cattle, the leopard attacked him, leaving him injured. Hearing his cries for help, the villagers quickly gathered and surrounded the area where the leopard was hiding. They started hitting the animal with sticks and other objects, leading to its death on the spot, police said. The injured is undergoing treatment at the district hospital, they added. The area is located about 25 km from where forest and police teams have been searching for a man-eater leopard over the past several days. However, authorities are yet to confirm if the dead leopard is the same one being tracked. Alarmed over the rising number of deaths, forest authorities issued an order on Octobe

A life of kindness: Ratan Tata's compassion for animals and beyond

Ratan Tata's empathy for animals, especially stray dogs, spanned from caring for his pets to creating safe spaces at Bombay House and founding India's first Small Animal Hospital

Monitored wildlife populations plunged 73% in 50 years: WWF report

Monitored wildlife populations have declined by an average of 73 per cent in just 50 years from 1970 to 2020, primarily due to habitat loss, climate change, and pollution, according to a new report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The 'Living Planet Report' 2024 also revealed sharp declines in three species of vultures in India, with populations dropping dramatically between 1992 and 2022. The white-rumped vulture population has declined by 67 per cent, the Indian vulture by 48 per cent, and the slender-billed vulture by 89 per cent. Globally, the steepest decline is reported in freshwater ecosystems (85 per cent), followed by terrestrial ecosystems (69 per cent) and marine ecosystems (56 per cent). Habitat loss and degradation, driven primarily by food systems, is the most commonly reported threat to wildlife populations worldwide, followed by overexploitation, invasive species, and disease, the report said. In India, some wildlife populations have stabilized and shown ..