A major scandal has erupted at the National Zoological Park in Delhi, with zoo workers demanding a full government inquiry into the alleged brutal killing of a golden jackal and a subsequent cover-up by senior officials.
Allegations of Extreme Cruelty and Negligence
In a formal complaint to India's environment ministry, the National Zoo Workers’ Union has laid out a disturbing sequence of events. The union states that in November 2025, four jackals escaped their enclosure due to a gap in the fencing, blaming the incident on gross administrative negligence and a failure to maintain safety standards.
While three jackals returned, one remained at large and entered the enclosure of a Himalayan black bear. According to the union's letter, seen by The Independent, the ranger in charge, Manoj Kumar, then devised an illegal plan to kill the animal. The union alleges he directed labourers to pour chilli powder into the bear's burrow where the jackal had taken refuge and set it alight.
"The air inside the burrow became toxic," an unnamed zoo official told The Independent. "The jackal also had some burn injuries." It remains unclear whether the animal died from suffocation or its burns.
A Systematic Cover-Up Attempt
The union's complaint details further alleged misconduct aimed at concealing the incident. It claims that, instead of following legal protocol by sending the carcass for a post-mortem examination, Ranger Manoj Kumar ordered workers to incinerate the jackal's body.
Two days later, the same workers were allegedly instructed to retrieve the remains from the burrow and dispose of them secretly, without notifying the zoo's veterinary staff. This action directly violated standard procedures requiring any animal death to be reported to a veterinarian and investigated.
The union further alleges that the zoo's director, Sanjeet Kumar, became aware of the incident but failed to prevent it or report it to higher authorities. Taken together, the letter argues these actions point to criminal offences, abuse of position, and a "complete breakdown of governance."
Calls for Action and Official Response
The union has urged the environment ministry to launch an independent investigation and immediately suspend those allegedly involved to prevent evidence tampering. It emphasised the need to preserve CCTV footage from 14 to 20 December 2025 as vital electronic evidence.
The allegations have prompted a visit to the zoo by a team of environment ministry officials. When contacted by The Independent, the zoo's director, joint director, and Ranger Manoj Kumar did not respond.
However, Director Sanjeet Kumar told The Indian Express that no such incident had been reported internally and that the jackal count matched official records. The zoo's latest inventory from March 2025 lists four male, two female, and three unsexed jackals. "One allegation has been received. The joint director has been asked to enquire into the allegation," he stated. Joint Director Nair Vishnuraj Narendran said he was out of town and would begin the inquiry upon his return to Delhi.
The union contends the episode breaches guidelines from the Central Zoo Authority and undermines India's commitment to wildlife conservation. They argue the alleged "extreme cruelty and unlawful killing" could attract penalties under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960.
