Katraj zoological park to get zebras from abroad

Recently, the Pune Municipal Council has planned to procure five Zebras for its Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Katraj from foreign zoos.

Key Highlights:

• The five Zebras to be brought are planned to include two males and Three Females.
• The guidelines by the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI) will be followed for the transportation of captive wild animals.

Zebras in India:

• Zebras are equids, members of the horse family.
• There are three different species: plains, mountains, and Grevy’s zebras.
• Though Zebras live in Africa, each species of zebra has its own home area.
• The Grevy’s zebra is the largest, weighing from 770 to 990 pounds (350 to 450 kilograms)
• The Grevy's zebra lives in the arid grasslands of Ethiopia and northern Kenya. The Grévy's zebra is considered endangered in India.
  
  
• Recent Initiatives:
  • The Lucknow Zoo has obtained three Zebras from Israel.

Indian Laws related to Wild Animals in Captivity:

• The Wildlife Protection Act is the law governing the status of wildlife conservation and Transportation in India.
• Any animal which is kept or bred in captivity, which is described in Schedule 1; Schedule 2; Schedule 3; and Schedule 4 of the act.
• The 'Chief wildlife warden' is the statutory authority that heads the wildlife department of a state.
• Protection of animals is enshrined as a fundamental duty in the Indian Constitution and there exist several animal welfare legislations in India such as the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 at the Central level.