New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday banned 250 zoos from breeding animals following allegations from animal rights activists that indiscriminate breeding was leaving them overcrowded and poorly cared for.
"We direct no zoo shall permit any further breeding of animals," Chief Justice YK Sabharwal said.
The apex court order came in response to a petition filed by the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) which accused zoos of carrying out unsystematic breeding, endangering the animals.
The group said zoos were violating a cap on the number of animals, such as tigers and deers, permitted to be bred in captivity and the overcrowding had left zoos ill-equipped to look after the animals.
"Most of these animals in zoos are also genetically unfit for breeding and their offspring can never be released in the wild," PETA counsel Raj Panjwani said.
The animal rights group said following their investigations, they had found that only 18 of the country's 250 zoos had a proper, planned breeding programme.
The court ordered an immediate halt to all breeding programmes in the country's zoos, which accommodate around 41,000 animals and also called on local authorities to respond to PETA's request for experienced veterinary units in zoos.
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