Zoo launches search for jackals that may have escaped enclosures

Delhi zoo authorities launched a search operation to locate a few jackals who may have escaped from their enclosures into the forested belt behind the animal exhibits, officials said on Sunday.

Three to four jackals were spotted in the bushy forested area on Saturday morning near the off-display jackal holding zone close to Azimganj Sarai in Beat No. 10 of the National Zoological Park.  The incident occurred between 10 and 11 am and renewed concerns over the zoo’s preparedness and recurring lapses in animal management.

The jackal enclosure, which features high wire mesh, burrows, shaded areas, and a shelter structure, is now under inspection. Officials are examining the section where the breach occurred to determine how the animals managed to escape.

 One jackal was successfully herded back into the enclosure on Sunday morning, while teams continued efforts to locate and bring in the remaining animals, they said. According to a statement issued by the Delhi Zoo administration, the trap cages were placed, and staff were deployed to guide the animals back to the holding enclosure. A tranquillisation team also remains on standby, they added.

One official said the jackals slipped out from the rear side of the enclosure, which opens into a dense forest patch forming the zoo’s outer boundary. This ensured there was no threat to visitors, who remained unaware of the situation.

The animals are suspected to have taken advantage of a gap in the fencing at the back of the enclosure. Zoo teams have been deployed across the forested area to locate and secure them, he said. Zoo authorities formally confirmed the incident on Sunday.

The Joint Director of the National Zoological Park has been asked to conduct an inquiry into the incident and submit a report, the statement said. The section where the breach occurred is now being examined to determine how the animals managed to get through.

The escape comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the zoo’s animal welfare and management practices. In September 2025, Shankar, the African elephant whose condition had drawn global concern, died amid allegations of chronic mistreatment. In 2020, a female gharial’s carcass was found three days after her death, with an internal inquiry holding five staff members negligent. The report noted putrefaction and maggots on the body, indicating monitoring and veterinary lapses. 

In 2019, the zoo informed the Central Zoo Authority that a veterinary officer had prematurely declared a nilgai dead without conducting mandatory checks. In November 2022, stray dogs entered the premises and killed three deer, including two endangered hog deer and a sika deer.