Jamnagar: The world’s largest zoo is being constructed by Reliance Industries Limited in Jamnagar and birds and animals are being imported from abroad. A PIL was then filed in the Gujarat High Court for a ban on the transfer of wild animals to a private zoo. The PIL filed in the Gujarat High Court by an organization called Halar Utkarsh Samiti Trust has requested the court to restrain the transfer of wild animals to private zoos.
The PIL sought the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and the state administration not to allow wild animals to be transferred to private zoos. In addition, a stay has been sought on the CZA’s August 2020 order recognizing private zoos. Petitioner’s counsel argued in the High Court that there is no provision in the law to recognize a private zoo. The zoo is recognized under the Mini Zoo category under Rule 9 of the Rules, 2009 but less than 10 hectares of land is allotted to the Mini Zoo. Jamnagar is set to become the world’s largest zoo. However, in 2020 the law was changed.
It may be noted that just a few days ago, 94 wild animals belonging to the scheduled range were brought to Jamnagar from Morocco, on the basis of which the PIL stated whether the environment of Jamnagar was suitable for Moroccan animals and whether proper criteria were met before transferring the animals. There is no mention of that in the company’s report.
However, the High Court kept the PIL pending. The court refused to intervene in the matter at this stage. The petitioner could not provide the court with a copy of the order passed by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) on August 17, 2020 approving Reliance Industries Limited and Green Zoological and Rehabilitation Center. The court asked the petitioner to provide a copy of the order first. Only then will the eligibility of PIL be decided
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