Kolkata – One of India’s oldest zoological parks, the Alipore Zoological Garden in Kolkata, is facing serious allegations of gross administrative negligence, with over 300 animals reported “missing overnight” from its records, as per a petition filed by city-based NGO Swazon (Save Wild Animals of Zoo and Our Nature) in the Calcutta High Court.
The petition, filed on 1 July 2025, claims systematic discrepancies in animal inventory records spanning nearly three decades, suggesting possible data fudging, illegal wildlife trade, and a strategic attempt to downsize the historic zoo for commercial land use.
Discrepancy in Official Inventory Raises Alarm
Swazon’s petition cites data from the Central Zoo Authority’s (CZA) annual reports showing that between March 31, 2024, and April 1, 2024, the number of animals recorded at the zoo dropped from 672 to 351 — a discrepancy of 321 animals in a single day.
While the zoo director Arun Mukherjee blamed the mismatch on a “counting error,” wildlife experts say the scale and recurrence of such inconsistencies suggest deeper concerns.
“One cannot rule out sinister possibilities like illegal wildlife trade to explain the hundreds of animals missing over the years at the Alipore zoo,” said Shubhobroto Ghosh, Wildlife Research Manager at World Animal Protection India.
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Three Decades of Data Mismatches
ThePrint’s independent analysis of past CZA reports reveals that this isn’t an isolated incident. Similar discrepancies — ranging from 5 to over 300 animals — have occurred every year since 1995. In some years, the zoo’s inventory is missing altogether, as seen for 2021–22 and 2022–23.
Swazon argues that even charismatic species like tigers, lions, elephants, and giraffes—still physically present in the zoo—are absent from official records.
Heritage at Risk: Court Hearing and Land Auction Controversy
The petition is scheduled to be heard on July 24. It demands a full disclosure of animal inventories from the past 10 years and an explanation for the consistent anomalies.
Swazon has also raised alarms over a 3-acre zoo land parcel currently facing auction. An e-tender issued by West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation seeks commercial bids for land at 34A, Belvedere Road, which houses essential zoo infrastructure such as the veterinary hospital, rescue center, and post-mortem facility.
“There’s a clear pattern: first they’re reducing the number of recorded animals, now they’re reducing the area under the zoo,” said Swarnali Chatterjee of Swazon. “It’s an attempt to strip the zoo of its status and commercialize the land.”
Zoo’s Reclassification Raises More Questions
Historically designated as a large zoo, the Alipore facility has now been downgraded to a medium-sized zoo due to its Mr.nking animal population — despite maintaining high footfall and ticket revenue.
Chatterjee emphasized that the zoo’s downgrading appears deliberate:
“The animals are Mr.nking, but revenue is not. That means mismanagement, not lack of funding.”
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Call for Nationwide Audit and Transparency
The CZA has requested a report from the Chief Wildlife Warden of West Bengal, but concerns persist about systemic issues in India’s 157 recognized zoos. Ghosh has called for urgent transparency and regulation across the country.
“It is of cardinal importance to institute transparency in animal records of not only Alipore zoo, but every zoo in India,” Ghosh stressed. “Wildlife trade is exploding in India — we must ensure zoos do not become complicit.”
