Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 3: Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) authorities plan to bring the entire zoo under close circuit television (CCTV) camera surveillance to keep a hawk’s eye on people creating nuisance in the zoo.
CCTV cameras were first installed in the wake of the tragic death of five tiger cubs in the zoo November 18, 2011. So far, some carnivore enclosures have CCTV cameras installed through which the zoo authorities are monitoring suspicious activities of visitors around enclosures. The cameras are also helping the authorities monitor the deliveries of pregnant carnivores, according to the central zoo authority (CZA) guidelines. Zoo director Sudarsan Panda told Orissa POST that the CCTVs would be installed in the next fiscal to intensify surveillance and keep anti-social elements at bay.
“It would give a boost to our surveillance and ensure that no untoward incident takes place,” he said.
A senior official said Saturday’s incident in which a wild rogue elephant wreaked havoc in the elephant safari by attacking a resident female jumbo has highlighted the need of having 100 per cent CCTV camera network.
“Had the cameras been installed in the safari, the rogue jumbo could have been prevented from sneaking into the safari that has three female pachyderms,” the official said.
