The transfer of numerous birds from Raipur's Nandanvan Pakshi Vihar to the Jungle Safari Zoo has ignited significant opposition from local residents, who claim the move threatens their primary source of income. The situation escalated when villagers, led by their sarpanch, filed a formal complaint with the police after witnessing the removal of the avian species.
Villagers' Livelihood Fears and Broken Promises
Tajuram Nishad, the sarpanch of Hathbandha gram panchayat, stated that the community's earnings are directly linked to the visitor footfall at the aviary. He explained that the facility, which also houses about 25 deer, supports local vending and tourism. On Sunday, after learning about the shifting operation, villagers rushed to Nandanvan to oppose it.
"The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) asked us to sit in the office and gave us an assurance that the birds would not be shifted. He promised the facility would be developed further," Nishad recounted. "However, a doctor from the Jungle Safari still loaded nearly 40 birds into a Bolero vehicle and left." Following this incident, a complaint was lodged at the Amanaka police station. Former sarpanch Kuleshwar Chandrakar was also present during the protest.
Nishad further revealed that villagers had previously donated approximately 3.5 acres of land for Nandanvan's expansion when it functioned as a zoo, which spans roughly 15 acres. He has now demanded that the remaining birds and animals not be moved to protect the village economy.
Forest Department's Clarification and CZA Directive
The forest department issued a detailed statement, framing the transfer as part of a restructuring plan. Officials stated that Nandanvan Pakshi Vihar is being developed as a dedicated aviary and eco-tourism centre, focusing on the conservation of non-schedule birds. This change comes after it lost its zoo status.
The department linked the relocation to a directive from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA). The directive, issued during the extension of recognition for the Nandhanvan Zoo & Jungle Safari in Nava Raipur, mandated that Pakshi Vihar must not house any wildlife. It required all animals to be moved to the Nava Raipur facility within three months. Wildlife enthusiasts have noted this recognition was granted around 2018-19, questioning the delay in implementation.
Forest authorities stated that instructions to complete the shifting were issued to the range officer on November 6, 2025, but the process faced strong resistance from villagers, causing postponement. A small batch of birds was finally shifted on November 30 after overcrowding was observed in specific aviaries housing Cockatiels and Budgerigars. Officials emphasized that CZA permission is not required for intra-facility transfers within the same recognized zoo establishment.
Denial of Bird Deaths and Inspection Findings
The department firmly denied social media reports alleging multiple bird deaths due to rat attacks. A team from the Nandhanvan Zoo & Jungle Safari, led by zoo director and veterinary officer Dr. Jadiya, inspected the Pakshi Vihar on Sunday. This inspection came one day after photographs purportedly showing dead birds circulated on WhatsApp.
The inspection team found the aviaries to be "clean and well-maintained." They reported only "minimal or negligible" signs of rodent activity, limited to minor burrows in a walk-in aviary. The director instructed staff to level the ground, destroy the burrows, and relocate birds to appropriate enclosures. Staff members suggested the viral photographs appeared old and did not reflect any recent incident.
Forest authorities categorically denied the death of any bird, including those protected under Schedule I, calling the allegations "baseless." They stated that some birds were moved to the Jungle Safari rescue centre as a precaution to reduce crowding and "prevent any untoward incident." The management of Nandanvan Pakshi Vihar asserted that the ongoing restructuring and partial relocation are strictly following CZA guidelines and are in the interest of animal welfare, urging the public not to believe misinformation on social media.
