Asia’s largest man-made jungle safari in Raipur, reports death of 17 Chausinghas so far and several other animals igniting a controversy with officials pointing fingers at each other, raising questions about the management of the ambitious tourism project. The blame game intensifies as the Jungle Safari Director and Divisional Forest Officer squarely place responsibility on Forest Officer Dr Rakesh Verma. According to official letters, Verma, responsible for the Jungle Safari, went on an unauthorised leave without sanction. The Director alleges that despite cancelling Verma’s leave application due to the critical condition, he managed to obtain leave directly from the PCCF.

 

In an official letter, the Director disclosed that three Chausinghas in the Herbivore section died suddenly on November 26 due to an unknown disease. Despite instructing Veterinary Surgical Officer Dr Rakesh Verma to provide immediate treatment, the Director had to attend official matters in New Delhi. Upon leaving, Verma allegedly took leave without addressing the alarming situation. The report emphasises that adverse conditions for the health of wild animals persisted at Nandanvan Zoo and Safari Nava Raipur, with Verma unresponsive despite multiple attempts to contact him. Wildlife conservationist Nitin Singhvi expressed concern, stating that the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) should not have approved the leave of the Veterinarian Doctor at the Jungle Safari without consulting the Jungle Safari Director/DFO. Singhvi argues that the Director had disapproved the doctor’s leave application, leading to a critical absence during the sudden outbreak.

 

The crisis raises concerns about the welfare of animals and the efficacy of management in this major tourist attraction. With 500 to 600 daily visitors and up to 1600 during holidays, the incident has the potential to impact the reputation of the jungle safari. Construction work to enhance the tourist experience adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing controversy. Dr. PK Chandan Dy. Director of Nandanvan Zoological garden when contacted stated that 17 Chausinghas died from November 25 onwards. The samples of the dead animals were collected and send to Indian Veterinary Research Institute(IVRI), Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh and Kamdhenu University Durg. Prima facie it is anticipated that the animals may have died due of acute soil born disease. The reports are expected within 5 days after which the exact cause of death will be known.