Question : PROTECTION OF SICK WILD ANIMALS

(a) whether the Government has any proposal to entrust injured and sick wild animals and their offsprings to the care of animal lovers or to rescue centres run by Non-Governmental Organizations;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of the guidelines issued or proposed to be issued in this regard;

(d) whether the Government has received any proposal from animal lovers for protection of the offsprings of wild animals and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the action taken by the Government on the said proposals/suggestions?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE. (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a)& (b) The Central Zoo Authority had requested the Chief Wildlife Wardens of all the States and Union Territories to establish Rescue Centers to house orphaned and injured wild animals, and those animals involved in man-animal conflict. There are already 15 recognized such rescue centers functioning in various parts of the country, run by Government and Non-Governmental organizations. Out of these, ten facilities are being run in non-government sector by NGOs/Societies/Trusts/ Individual.

(c) The Central Zoo Authority has issued guidelines for setting up of rescue centers. The important aspects of the guidelines include obligation to follow standards and norms laid by the Authority under Recognition of Zoo (Amendment) Rules, 2013, rearing of young animals in nurseries attached to veterinary facilities; and making efforts for rehabilitating the rescued animals to regular lifetime care facilities or to wild as per suitability.

(d) and (e) The Central Zoo Authority has recently received proposal for setting up of a Zoo and Rescue Centre at Mukundpur, Satna and Gorewada, Nagpur. The Master Plans for both the proposals have been approved by the Central Zoo Authority.