A major scandal has erupted at India's National Zoological Park in Delhi, with allegations of extreme animal cruelty and an attempted cover-up by senior officials.
Union Alleges Torturous Killing
The National Zoo Workers’ Union has made a shocking accusation against the zoo's management. It claims that a jackal, which was one of four animals that escaped in November due to staff negligence, later strayed into the enclosure of a Himalayan black bear. Instead of using safe capture protocols, staff members allegedly poured chilli powder into the burrow where the jackal had taken refuge and set it on fire.
The union states this act caused severe burn injuries and likely suffocation, leading to the animal's death. Workers were then reportedly instructed to incinerate the body, an action the union says was intended to destroy evidence of the unlawful killing.
Legal Violations and Call for Action
In a formal complaint, the union labelled the incident as an act of "extreme cruelty". It argues that the killing violated both India's Wildlife Protection Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The complaint explicitly accuses senior zoo officials of orchestrating the event and then trying to conceal it.
The union has urgently called on the country's environment ministry to launch an independent, high-level investigation. Its demands include the immediate suspension of all staff involved and the preservation of all relevant CCTV footage from the zoo to aid the probe.
Official Response and Ongoing Enquiry
When approached for comment, officials at Delhi's National Zoological Park confirmed that the matter was under enquiry. They did not provide further details on the nature of the internal investigation or comment directly on the specific allegations made by the workers' union.
The incident, which reportedly occurred in January 2026, has cast a harsh spotlight on animal welfare standards and management practices at one of India's most prominent zoos. Animal rights activists and the public are now awaiting the findings of what promises to be a closely watched investigation.
