**Summary of the 45th Meeting of the Central Zoo Authority**
**Overview**
On March 21, 2026, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, chaired the 45th meeting of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy in Dehradun. The meeting focused on reviewing the progress of the second cycle of the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE-ZOO) and outlining new strategic initiatives for zoo management in India.
**Key Publication Release**
A significant highlight of the meeting was the release of a compendium titled **"Care in Captivity: A compendium to showcase Best Practices of Zoos."** This publication documents India’s evolving strategies in zoo management, specifically focusing on animal welfare, conservation breeding, research, and education.
**Key Decisions and Directives**
The meeting resulted in several strategic decisions aimed at modernization and conservation:
* **Public Engagement:** A committee will be established to develop the **"My Zoo"** concept, designed to connect prominent individuals from various fields with zoos.
* **Conservation Breeding:** Zoos are required to present progress reports on conservation breeding programs for two to three species during each forthcoming CZA meeting.
* **Human-Wildlife Conflict Management:** The Authority mandated regular updates on the transfer of leopards involved in negative human-leopard interactions. These animals are to be moved to zoos with off-display facilities that can provide long-term care, appropriate housing, and healthcare.
* **Modernization and Knowledge Sharing:** The modernization concept used by the **National Zoological Park, New Delhi**, will be shared as a model for other zoos to emulate.
* **Professional Development:** A capacity-building workshop will be organized for Zoo Veterinarians specifically focusing on captive animal nutrition.
* **Administrative Integration:** Future CZA meetings will include a dedicated presentation by a Zoo Director and continued deliberation on policy matters.
**Reference Data**
* **Event:** 45th Meeting of the Central Zoo Authority
* **Location:** Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun
* **Release ID:** 2243418
* **Date of Posting:** 21 MAR 2026, 6:37 PM
Key Entities Referenced
Central Zoo Authority: The statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change responsible for oversight, standard-setting, and management of zoos across India.
Care in Captivity: A compendium to showcase Best Practices of Zoos: A policy document released to highlight India’s evolving approach to zoo management, animal welfare, conservation breeding, and research.
Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of zoos: An assessment framework used by the Central Zoo Authority to review the progress and operational performance of zoological parks.
‘My Zoo’ concept: An initiative involving the constitution of a committee to connect prominent persons from various fields with zoos for better engagement.
National Zoological Park, New Delhi: A primary zoological institution whose modernization concept is planned to be shared as a model for the benefit of other zoos.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Union Environment Minister chairs 45th Meeting
of Central Zoo Authority
Publication titled ‘Care in Captivity: A compendium to
showcase Best Practices of Zoos’ released
Posted On: 21 MAR 2026 6:37PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, chaired the 45th
Meeting of the Central Zoo Authority held today at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy,
Dehradun. During meeting progress of second cycle of Management Effectiveness Evaluation of zoos was
reviewed.
Following decisions were taken in the meeting were as mentioned below:
A Committee be constituted on the concept ‘My Zoo’ to connect prominent persons from various
fields with zoos.
Progress on conservation breeding programme of 2 to 3 species per meeting be presented by zoos
in forthcoming meetings of Central Zoo Authority.
Regular updates be provided regarding transfer of Leopards involved in human-leopard negative
interactions, to zoos that have reported availability of facility in off-display areas for their long-term
care that ensure appropriate housing, upkeep and healthcare.Concept of modernization of the National Zoological Park, New Delhi may be shared for benefit
of other zoos.
A capacity building workshop for Zoo Veterinarians on captive animals’ nutrition be organized.
Policy matters be deliberated in forthcomings meetings.
A presentation by a Zoo Director be included from next meeting of the Central Zoo Authority.
Publication titled ‘Care in Captivity: A compendium to showcase best practices of zoos’ was released
during the meeting. The compendium highlights India’s evolving approach to zoo management, focusing
on animal welfare, conservation breeding, research, and education.
*****
VM(Release ID: 2243418) Visitor Counter : 199
Read this release in: ही