Delhi National Zoological Park Delhi Zoo plans dolphinarium

[Chlidonias]

interestingly, for those lovers of unusual zoo inhabitants, the plans appear to be for the Ganges freshwater dolphin!
Delhi Zoo exploring for building dolphinarium - Hindustan Times

Notwithstanding opposition by wildlife enthusiasts to keeping dolphins in captivity, the Delhi Zoo is exploring the feasibility of building a dolphinarium as envisaged by Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh. The dolphin exhibit or dolphinarium will be the part of the yet to be prepared master plan of the Delhi Zoo which would also include a multi-species immersion exhibit with elevated board walk, interpretation centre, food court, open air theatre and souvenir shop.

While majority of zoos have already submitted their master plans to the Central Zoo Authority and availed funds for infrastructure developments, the Delhi Zoo has plans to rope in a consultant to do the job to ensure global standards are maintained.

"We have floated expression of interest for a consultant or firm for the job. The master plan has to be worked out for next 20 years and the improvement works would be carried out over next five years," a senior Delhi Zoo official said.

As per CZA guidelines, the master layout plan of the zoo is a detailed landscape map of the existing site showing prevalent facilities and infrastructure and also the proposed developmental activities in animal display area and other areas for the better up keep of the animals.

The Delhi Zoo proposal says, "The plan will also incorporate feasibility and design of a multi-species immersion exhibit with elevated board walk as well as setting up a dolphin exhibit or dolphinarium in the National Zoological Park."

While declaring the government's plan to announce dolphins as national aquatic animal, Ramesh had earlier this year floated the idea of keeping the Gangetic mammals in captivity for public awareness in Delhi Zoo, which is spread over 76 hectares.

However, the idea had drawn flak from many NGOs like PETA and Animals Asia which feel that "Dolphins cannot cope with life in captivity. Torn apart from their families, most captive dolphins live to only half the age of wild dolphins. The chemicals used in tanks sometimes cause skin and eye problems."

The Gangetic dolphin is critically endangered. Highly sensitive and complex animals, dolphins are not genetically designed to live in small tanks, said PETA manager for special projects Dharmesh Solanki.

 

[Chlidonias]

Can dolphins revive Delhi zoo?

As a part of the yet to be prepared Master Plan for the Delhi Zoo, officials are exploring the feasibility of building a dolphinarium. Tours and travel agents in the capital welcomed the idea but insisted that before planning an almost "unworkable task", the officials should concentrate on improving the conditions inside the park.

While declaring the government's plan to announce dolphin as national aquatic animal, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had earlier this year floated the idea of keeping the Gangetic mammals in captivity for public awareness in Delhi Zoo, which is spread over 76 hectares.

Gour Kanjilal, Executive Director of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) said, "This is a super idea by our minister. We will be among a few countries to have such a dolphinarium. This would also increase foot falls in the zoo. However, this is a long term plan and can take years. In the meantime, government should see that the condition of the zoo is bettered."

Shikkhar Travels, a private tour and travel operators in Delhi, who have been operating for last ten years excluded Delhi Zoo from their sight seeing tours for the last few years. "We offer different packages but none of them includes Delhi Zoo. The reason being it is spread over a vast area and takes almost half a day.

Moreover the excitement factor is also missing," said Dushyant Shikkharwar from Shikkhar Travels.
"The officials should go step by step. Since planning a dolphinarium would take time, the officials must concentrate to improve the conditions in the zoo," Shikkharwar added.

According to the Master Plan, the zoo would also include a multi-species immersion exhibit with elevated board walk, interpretation centre, food court, open air theatre and souvenir shop. Delhi Zoo plans to rope in a consultant to submit the master plans to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to ensure global standards are maintained.

As per CZA guidelines, the master layout plan of the zoo is a detailed landscape map of the existing site showing prevalent facilities and infrastructure and also the proposed developmental activities in animal display area and other areas for the better up keep of the animals.

The master plan has to be worked out for next 20 years and the improvement works would be carried out over next five years.

The travel agents are also not sure if the idea of keeping dolphins in captivity will work or not. "I have read somewhere that dolphins cannot cope with life in captivity. Most captive dolphins live to only half the age of wild dolphins. The officials must consider all factors before embarking on such a plan," said Ashutosh of Smily Travels.

 

[Chlidonias]

I just also found this much older post from October last year (the above two posts were from yesterday and today)
Delhi Zoo to house freshwater dolphins | Wildlifewatch

After declaring the rare freshwater dolphin as national aquatic animal, the Centre has now come up with an ambitious plan to keep them in captivity in Delhi Zoo to sensitise visitors about the endangered species, says a Press Trust of India (PTI) report.

"The Gangetic dolphin has been declared as national aquatic animal and we will ensure that it is kept in Delhi zoo also for creating awareness among visitors about the importance of the species," Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said at a function to celebrate Wildlife Week here.

He also emphasised on the public's involvement in wildlife conservation efforts underlining that "police and government role is not sufficient to curb wildlife crime."

 

[jwer]

I've been to Delhi Zoo last year, and to my shame haven't posted anything about it yet...

For now, all I can say is that i was impressed by the management. Food was not allowed in, and not sold anywhere in the Zoo. At first i was surprised and perhaps a little annoyed by this fact, untill i realised i never saw anyone feeding the animals.

It really felt like the management wanted to get rid of people feeding the animals, and was so unsuccesfull that they banished food entirely from their grounds. The result all over the zoo was very noticeable; healthy looking animals and no begging at all. All i can say, respect for the zoo to scratch an important income in favour of the animals well-being. It gives me a little hope that this dolphinarium idea could work without mistreatment of the animals involved.

As for the zoo, nothing really spectacular but also nothing really bad, bare for a little overcrowded cage of leopards and and rather small cage for a jaguar. But all in all, it could rival many major zoos in europe. The collection was impressive, but contained only a handfull of animals that are not to be seen in Europe. Most notable animals included;
Indian Gazelle; Gazella Benetti
Goral; Naemorhedus goral
Four-horned antilope Tetracerus quadricornis (empty exhibit all day )
Hoolock Hibbon Bunopithecus hoolock (single individual)

Other animals are gaurs, sloth bears, asian lions, tigers (both white and striped), chimpansees, three elephants (male and two females), banteng, asian rhinos, a single male Lechwe, cassowary, a troup of baboons, multiple species of deer, macaques, large herd of nilgai, three other crocodilians, large reticulated pythons... I can try and dig up the map and list some more when people would like me to.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

The zoo has gone through some phase in recent years and negative/ suggestive reporting on animal deaths (PETA ilk are very active in India and it is often difficult to get the real facts right).

What can be said is that for sure the recent (2008-2009) rhino and deer deaths could have been avoided by management. Perhaps the place has become stricter now (as evidenced by jwer's report).

As for a dolphinarium as part of the masterplan: I would prefer/concur they stick to renovating the existing exhibits on animal zoning/ regional themes and work from there. A riverine dolphinarium may be a definite plus if all interpretative exhibits have been done up. However, I do not subscribe to the kind of crap (excuse-)"expertise" that PETA or Asian Animal Network come out with regarding dolphins.

Obviously, better Carnivora facilities is a definite need in many Indian zoos (as it is in Delhi) and some more imaginative presentation of hoofstock would also greatly improve the appeal of the zoo. As for staffing levels a resident animal vet, a well-equipped in situ animal hospital, food kitchen and other major logistical facilities would be instrumental in raising animal welfare and management/up-keep levels further.

 

[sealion]

Interesting story. It's great that they're looking to try and use the ganges dolphin as it is critically endangered, this could possibly prevent this dolphin reaching the fate of it's yangtze cousins.

A few issues with the anti-cap info:

Many dolphinaria use seawater, not chlorine (this probably doesn't apply to delhi as it is landlocked, but the use of chemicals in dolphinaria is strictly monitored and has come a long way since the trial-and-error of the 60s and 70s.

Recently, there is hardly any different between the lifespan of captive and wild dolphins, despite what many groups state.

and the phrase "dolphins cannot cope in captivity" is obviously a lie. There is too much evidence against this.

But all in all, as long as they plan it carefully and make sure the emphasis is on conservation rather than money this could be a vital lifeline for the species.