Hyderabad Zoo Park hosts training for animal keepers from South India

A three-day training programme for animal keepers from zoos across South India has begun at Hyderabad's Nehru Zoological Park to enhance skills in animal care, hygiene, feeding practices, enclosure enrichment, rescue operations and quarantine protocols.

Hyderabad: A three-day training programme for animal keepers from zoos across South India commenced at Nehru Zoological Park here on Wednesday. The programme aims to improve keepers’ knowledge and awareness of hygiene, enclosure enrichment, feeding, diet chart maintenance, animal rescue and quarantine protocols.

Telangana Forest Development Corporation Vice Chairperson and Managing Director Sunita M Bhagawat, who launched the programme, described animal keepers as the heart of a zoo. She said their observations serve as the first diagnostic tool, as small changes in an animal’s appetite, gait or behaviour can determine its outcome.

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Indian Institute of Forest Management Director Dr K Ravichandran said animal keepers play a vital role in zoos by caring for animals in all aspects and building strong bonds with them. Nehru Zoological Park Curator J Vasantha described animal keepers as the backbone of every zoo. About 35 participants from Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh are part of the training programme.