Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has recommended starting a capacity-development programme for Delhi zoo's "very demotivated" animal keepers and roping in more interns and volunteers for assistance, a senior official said on Tuesday. CZA has also recommended sending animal keepers to or zoos to learn best practices.

"A lot is happening in zoo and situation doesn't inspire confidence. animal keepers are feeling very demotivated. re's an urgent need to organise a capacity-development programme for m every three months. Instructions have been issued in this regard.  programme will feature best practices of zoos across country," CZA Member-Secretary S P Yav said.

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Requirement for interns

He said CZA has also recommended sending Delhi zoo's animal keepers to or zoos, which will rejuvenate m and help m acquire new skills. CZA has asked zoo ministration to rope in more volunteers and interns for help.

"Anyone who loves and cares for wildlife can apply to become a volunteer. For internship, applicants should be students of veterinary colleges and have some background kwledge. It will be an unpaid internship programme, but zoo will provide accommodation to interns," Yav said.

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A Delhi zoo official, however, said re's a severe short of staff in zoo and volunteers and interns cant make up for it.

"Earlier, animal section h around 80 employees. w less than 30, including attendants and gangmen, are left. One cant expect volunteers and interns to do work of regular staff," official said.

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Frequent animal deaths

overall staff strength has come down from 350 to 80. re are only 20 animal keepers left in zoo, official claimed. zoo has been in helines recently over a large number of animal deaths and allegations of irregularities by staff. According to a recently conducted census, Delhi zoo recorded 245 deaths from April 2018 to June 2019, second-highest mortality figure in five years. In August, zoo's last cape buffalo died after eating plastic, prompting authorities to order a probe into incident. zoo has lost around 10 species of animals, including chinkara, cassowary and ostrich, and 27 animal species do t have a mating partner. 

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