The Recognition of Zoo Rules 2009

In one line

Eleven rules and a Schedule that say what section 38H means in practice: the form, the fee, the four classes of zoo, and the standards.

In exam wording: the Recognition of Zoo Rules 2009, G.S.R. 807(E) of 10 November 2009, were made under clauses (f) and (g) of sub-section (1) of section 63 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 in supersession of the Recognition of Zoo Rules 1992; rule 3 requires an application for recognition under section 38H, and for prior approval under section 38H(1A) for the establishment of a new zoo, to be made to the Central Zoo Authority in Form I, the latter with a detailed project report; rule 4 fixes the fee at ten thousand rupees; rule 6 permits the Authority to make inquiries and call for further information before granting recognition; rule 7 provides that recognition granted shall be for a period not less than one year unless granted on a permanent basis, and subject to compliance with the standards and norms and with the Authority's directions and guidelines; rule 8 requires an application for renewal three months before expiry, on a fee of five thousand rupees.

Continued: rule 9 classifies zoos as large, medium, small and mini on six criteria; rule 10 requires recognition to be granted with due regard to the interest of protection and conservation of wildlife and on satisfaction that the standards and norms in the Schedule are met, with a proviso permitting conditional recognition to a zoo that has shown considerable improvement and has the potential and resources to reach the prescribed standards within a reasonable time; and rule 11 requires records of births, acquisitions, deaths and disposals, an annual inventory in Form II by 30 April, quarterly returns for Schedule I and Schedule II species with post-mortem reasons for death, and an annual report by 30 June.

Note on the count. The notification contains eleven rules, followed by a Schedule and Forms I and II. Form I numbers its own items from 1 to 16. A count taken by pattern therefore reports sixteen rules, and this book's coverage contract said so until it was checked against the notification. The rules are eleven.

Rule 1: short title and commencement. The rules may be called the Recognition of Zoo Rules 2009 and came into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

The definitions in rule 2

Endangered species means species included in Schedule I and Schedule II of the Act.

Critically endangered species means an endangered species whose total number in all the zoos in the country put together does not exceed 200. That is a definition by national captive population, and it is unusual enough to be worth quoting.