Zoo needs a plastic surgery

NEW DELHI: Though it's a plastic-free zone, many visitors can be seen openly dumping PET bottles and carry bags, besides food items, at Delhi zoo. Experts say this can be harmful to the zoo inmates as ingestion of these items can lead to various infections and in the long run may even prove to be fatal.
Zoo rules stipulate that any plastic item brought by a visitor be kept either in the cloakroom or outside the gate.Earlier an exception was made only in the case of plastic feeding bottles and/or water bottles for young children but unconcerned visitors forced the zoo to allow everyone to carry the bottles. So, now carrybags and bottles can be seen thrown near many enclosures.
Said Gautam Grover of the NGO, Animal Saviour: "Plastic wastes cause harm to the environment and can also prove harmful to animals, especially stray cattle. It is estimated that thousands of cattle die in the Capital due to the consumption of plastic bags thrown in the dustbins."
Agreed Delhi zoo veterinarian Dr Panneer Selvam: "Plastic bags are known to be harmful to animals. These things when consumed are very difficult for the animals to digest and the animals can develop infections in their intestinal tracts. Consumption of a large amount can even lead to the animal's death." Selvam, however, refused to comment on the scene at Delhi zoo.
According to Grover, the situation is not so serious in Delhi zoo but, he said, the authorities need to have a better waste management system in place. "Visitors often throw plastic bottles and packets of food items to the animals. The unsuspecting animal may eat these and fall prey to various infections. The guards need to keep a check on mischievous elements inside the zoo."
kunal.doley@timesgroup.com