No to permit breeding of animals beyond prescribed manner: SC

New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to ensure strict compliance of its order dated Feb 7 1995, denying permission to permit breeding of animals in the zoos throughout the country beyond prescribed number.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabarwal and Justice C K Thakkar also issued notices to the CZA on a petition filed by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) seeking directions to the authority to implement its order to control and check overcrowding of zoos in the country.

At present there are 159 recognised zoos in the country while 84 others whose application for recognition has already been rejected by CZA are still continuing illegally. According to the petitioner, overcrowding of animals in the zoos and wild animal sanctuaries were causing spread of diseases among animals due to prevailing unhygienic conditions in such places. Lack of veterinary doctors and virtual absence of medical treatment of ailing animals has threatened some rare species with extinction.

Today's directions were issued by the court which took serious view of prevailing state of affairs in the zoos in the country due to unchecked growth of population of animals for which further control and check on breeding of animals has become paramount.

UNI AKS/SC BDP RP VC1725