Delhi’s much-loved recreational spot, Deer Park in the Hauz Khas area, is set to close following an order from the Central Zoo Authority. The park, which has been recognized as a “mini zoo” for the past 55 years, will lose its official status.
Nearly 600 deer residing in the park will be relocated to forest areas in Rajasthan and Delhi, as mentioned in The Indian Express report. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will take responsibility for preserving the area as a protected forest.
Why is it closing?
The decision comes as the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) cites overcrowding as the main reason. With about 600 deer in the park, the CZA plans to relocate them to forest areas in Delhi and Rajasthan. The absence of natural predators has caused uncontrolled growth in the deer population over the years.
Initially, the proposal was to transfer all the deer to Rajasthan, but now some will be moved to Delhi’s Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will be in charge of maintaining the park as a protected forest.
The closure is attributed to DDA officials’ inexperience in managing a large deer population. The relocation will take place after the breeding season, either in winter or after winters, forestry department officials reported.
Also, the Rajasthan forestry department plans to move the deer to reserve areas to improve the prey base in tiger reserves like Mukundra and Ramgarh-Vishdhari.
Increase in leopard population
The Asola Bhatti Sanctuary has seen an increase in the leopard population, as stated in the CZA order, leading to the need for a larger prey base. The DDA had estimated the spotted deer population to be 565 in 2022, and it is expected to have risen to around 600.
Deer will be transferred to Rajasthan and Delhi at a ratio of 70:30. The exact timetable for the relocation is still uncertain, but it is likely that it will take place after the breeding season, possibly during the winter.
The Rajasthan forestry department confirmed that the deer will be moved to the Mukundra and Ramgarh-Vishdhari tiger reserves to improve the prey base.
Deer Park’s recognition was valid until August 2021 and the DDA filed a renewal application in September 2021, according to the CZA.
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