The authorities seem to be in the dark about the execution of a Central Zoo Authority order to shift the inmates of a private zoo in Madhyamgram that the federal agency has shut down.

The zoo authority's notification - a copy of which is with Metro - ordered "physical closure" of Calcutta Snake Park and shifting of "all wild animals (of the park) to a recognised facility" in Bengal "with immediate effect".

The notification has been sent to the proprietor of the snake park, Dipak Mitra, with copies marked to the state's chief wildlife warden and member-secretary of West Bengal Zoo Authority.

Enquiries by this newspaper revealed that nothing much has been done to implement the zoo authority's order.

"There was a long holiday and I have just joined. I am not aware of the order," said Pradip Shukla, chief wildlife warden of Bengal.

Azim Zaidi, the chief conservator of forests in the state, said: "Yes, we have received the order and closed down the facility. I believe the animals are also being shifted."

B.R. Sharma, the member-secretary of state zoo authority, said the state forest department was yet to communicate with him about the shifting of the Calcutta Snake Park inmates. "Once such a communication reaches us, we will look for space and other logistics required for shifting so many inmates," Sharma said.

The park, around four-decade-old, is spread across three acres and houses about 300 animals, apart from 150 snakes, including cobras and pythons. Mitra claimed he had not received any order from the central agency.

Sources in the Central Zoo Authority said the closure order followed reports that the Madhyamgram zoo was violating rules and ill-treating the animals and snakes.

"We will appeal to the chief wildlife warden for another chance," Mitra said.

The zoo authority's order, however, says "no further correspondence will be entertained... regarding grant of recognition to Calcutta Snake Park".