No CCTV cameras at Bir Talab zoo

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 1

The owl theft incident that occurred around three months ago does not seem to have rung alarm bells as the Forest and Wildlife Department authorities have failed to ensure proper security arrangements for hundreds of animals and birds kept inside the Bir Talab zoo.

There are no CCTV cameras installed at the zoo to ensure round-the-clock surveillance of animals. There are forest guards appointed, who move inside the zoo to ensure the security of animals, but for them too it is a difficult task to cover long distance.

Sources said leave aside covering animal enclosures under CCTV surveillance, the authorities did not install CCTV cameras at the entry and exit points, thereby making the animals vulnerable to thefts.

Two owls of rare barn species went missing under mysterious circumstances from the zoo in September 2018. Following this, the Forest Department authorities suspended guards who were on duty when the theft incident occurred.

An employee of the department said it was not possible to cover the entire zoo area by guards and if the authorities were genuinely concerned about the security and safety of the animals and birds kept in the zoo, they must install CCTV cameras at every enclosure and at entry point.

There is 15-ft fencing wall in the zoo that anyone can trespass and cause harm or steal animals easily.

Notably after the owl theft incident at the Bir Talab zoo, all other zoos across the state were put on alert.

Sources added that the authorities didn’t seem to be serious about the security of animals and even after the theft incident, CCTV cameras have not been installed in the zoo till now.

Even Chhatbir zoo is covered by CCTV cameras to ensure round-the-clock surveillance of animals and birds. It is high time that the authorities install CCTV cameras at the Bir Talab zoo as well.

Divisional Forest Officer Amritpal Singh Brar could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.