Delhi Zoo Reassigns Range Charges Amid Inquiry into Jackal Death Allegations

The National Zoological Park (NZP) in Delhi is investigating allegations that a jackal died of suffocation after escaping into a Himalayan black bear enclosure. The zoo workers' union claims staff used chilli powder and fire to force the animal out, leading to its death and improper disposal without a postmortem. Following these claims, the curator (education) had range charges withdrawn, reassigned to other officials pending inquiry. The zoo director stated no incident was reported to him and confirmed jackal numbers match official records.