Animals first, joggers can warm up outside.

The Central Zoo Authority on Tuesday served an "ultimatum" to the state government to stop people jogging inside Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park immediately, failing which the zoo would be shut down for visitors.

D.N. Singh, member-secretary, Central Zoo Authority, told officials of the zoo and state forest department that the issue of stopping all kinds of jogging activities inside the animal zone is lingering since 2006. "Earlier, we used to be told that there were not sufficient options for joggers in Patna. But this is hardly true, as I'm from this city only," said Singh. "I've observed that the number of parks has increased in the past few years and now there is no dearth of green spaces in the city. We are requesting the state government to stop jogging inside the zoo. Else, we would be forced to take necessary legal action, which would lead to closure of the zoo for visitors."

Central Zoo Authority is custodian of all 52 zoos in the country and its member-secretary is its top boss. Singh, who joined as its member-secretary on January 27 this year, claimed that the closure of the zoo means withdrawal of its recognition by Central Zoo Authority. Every zoo in the country requires its recognition for operation.

"Morning and evening walks are not permitted in any zoo anywhere in the world. Central Zoo Authority has been asking Patna zoo as well to stop jogging activities since 2006. We are hopeful that no more reminders would be needed on this issue and jogging would be stopped at the zoo with immediate effect," said Singh.

A senior official in the forests department claimed that any instruction issued by Central Zoo Authority is a statutory directive and its adherence is mandatory.

S.S. Choudhary, additional principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden of Bihar, said further action on this matter would be taken based on the government decision. "The forests department would communicate the matter to the state government and it would take a final decision on this," he said.

The habit of morning and evening walks at Patna zoo is highly popular among people. As things stand now, those willing to go for a walk in the zoo can do so without paying any entry fee. The free jogging hours start at 5am and the gates remain open for joggers till 7pm.

In 2006, Central Zoo Authority asked the state environment and forests department to stop jogging activities inside the zoo, citing requests for the same made to the authority by several Patna High Court advocates.

In a reply to a missive in 2010, the then Patna zoo director assured the authority of stopping jogging in the zoo in phases. In 2011 as well, the authority asked the zoo to stop jogging while granting approval to its master plan. In May 2012, the authority asked Patna zoo to ban entry of morning walkers in the zoological or animal area. The zoological area is spread over 60 per cent of the zoo's total area of 61 hectares.

Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park was established in 1973.

Animal exchange

Patna zoo has entered into an agreement with crocodile zoo at Falster Island, Denmark, for an animal exchange programme. Zoo director S. Chandrashekhar said they would get three Green Anacondas, three Royal Pythons and three Nile Crocodiles among other species in exchange of eight crocodiles.

WWF support

State environment and forests department and WWF entered into an agreement on Tuesday for monitoring of tigers and grassland development at Valmiki Tiger Reserve in West Champaran. The WWF would also provide all necessary support, including supply of arms and equipment for keeping a tab on tiger poaching.