Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) inaugurate 3-Day Regional Training Programme for Zookeepers at IIFM, Bhopal

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) inaugurate 3-Day Regional Training Programme for Zookeepers at IIFM, Bhopal To facilitate Uniform Welfare Standards and enhance Coordination between Zookeepers and Zoo Management in Central India

Posted On: 07 OCT 2026 7:48PM by PIB Delhi A three-day regional training programme for Zoo Keepers of zoos in Central India commenced today at the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal. Organized jointly by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and IIFM from 7th - 9th October, 2026, the programme aims to strengthen the professional capacities of zoo keepers in captive animal care, behaviour, facility operations, and conservation education.

One of the functions of the Central Zoo Authority under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is to co-ordinate training of zoo personnel. Recognizing that zookeepers form the operational backbone of zoological parks and are directly responsible for daily animal management this regional initiative provides both technical classroom sessions and hands- on field visit at Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal.In his inaugural address, Director (IIFM), Dr. K. Ravichandran, recognized zookeepers as the frontline foundation of daily zoo operations, noting that the success of zoo management ultimately rests on their hands-on dedication. He emphasized that grounding keepers in structured technical training and safety protocols boosts overall operational efficiency, lowers on-the-job risks, and strengthens the role of zoos in conservation education.

Addressing the session, Member Secretary (CZA), Dr. V. Clement Ben, emphasized that animal keepers are at the heart of zoo management, as their daily vigilance provides the earliest indicators of an animal's health and welfare. Modern zookeeping requires continuous learning, strict safety practices, and disciplined record-keeping. He urged keepers to treat safety as a daily culture and foster close teamwork with veterinarians and managers, reminding them that their daily work directly shapes animal welfare, operational safety, and conservation outcomes.The initiative seeks to establish uniform welfare standards and enhance coordination between zookeepers and zoo management across zoos in Central India.

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