BENGALURU: On the evening of October 11, Anji (as he was called) was helping another senior zoo staffer feed two white tiger cubs at Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP). Anji had just been a week into the job and, like most zoo staffers, he had not been given any formal training. A more experienced and trained hand would have checked if the enclosure was secure and would not have panicked and ran, when the cubs gave chase. Anji was mauled to death.
Ever since the zoo was founded in 1970, none of the keepers have been given any formal training. They learn from experience and guidance from veterinary doctors and forest officers, say the Park officials.
Chanakeshwar, an animal keeper with the park for the past 15 years, says, “I learnt all about my work from my seniors… I have handled different animals over the years including monkeys and langurs for the past two to three years.”
Santosh Kumar, executive director of Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP), says, "They are not specialised workers. They are daily wage earners who are hired on contract, which is renewed every year, with BBP…. They are assigned an animal based on their preferences and availability”.
An education officer at the Park, Amala M Anil, says that unlike other countries, India does not have any structured course to study animal behaviour. "Abroad, it takes about six to seven years to get a proper paid job of an animal keeper as there are many applicants and many examinations to clear for the role. In India, it is more based on experience,” she says, adding, that this is good. “Practical knowledge is important,” she says.
Amala says there are formulating degrees in India to study animal behaviour. An animal keeper should have good observational and communication skills and should maintain a good rapport with the animal. “The job of a zoo keeper requires a passionate commitment to the well-being of the animals,” she adds.
While the zoo staffers come fresh into the job, there are regular training programmes organised for them by the Central Zoo Authority of India. “The officers and zoo keepers are sent to different zoos across the country to learn. Zoo staff, including us, learn how they keep the animals and how zoo keepers handle them. We exchange our experiences with them,” says Amala.
She adds that the zookeeper checks on the animal every day for any signs of health issues and, if anything shows up, they get in touch with the vets. When a new animal is brought to the zoo, a keeper is selected to take care of it based on their capabilities and experience. “We also take inputs from the keepers for new enclosures as they have a more close association with the animal,” she says.
Minimum wage, going by year of joining
The workers are paid in compliance with government’s minimum wage rule, says Santosh Kumar, executive director of Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP). They were paid the same salary in spite of their years of experience. On their demand, five categories were formed on the level of seniority and experience. The workers are now classified into these categories on the basis of the year of their joining: 1990 to 1995, 1995 to 2000, 2000 to 2005, 2005 to 2010 and 2010 to 2015, he explains.
‘Regular maintenance can avoid accidents’
Dr Arun A Sha, director, research and veterinary operations,
Wildlife SOS, says, no experienced person face an attack by an animal unless he is negligent or over confident. The keeper should know the Set of Protocols (SOP) that he needs to follow, especially while handling a deadly animal. Proper regular maintenance of the enclosure is also pre-requisite to avoid such accidents. Arun who is currently working for Bear Rescue Centre in Bannerghatta Biological Park adds, “About a decade ago, when we rescued a bear and her two cubs and were trying to shift from the cage to the house in the Park, the mother broke open the door and bit a finger of our staffer who was standing near it.”
Sensitising the youth
Bannerghatta Biological Park is starting a Youth Club from this Sunday for 15 weeks to sensitise the youth about animals. There will be sessions on wildlife management and careers in wildlife. Students of class 6 to 12 can register and participate by filling an online application form. “Around 50 have already registered,” says Amala M Anil, education officer of Bannerghatta Biological Park.