A few Highlights and achievements of our CBSG/RSG/SAZARC event

·   We conducted a CBSG RSG meeting with explanations of both specialist groups and meaningful working groups on increasing prey base in satellite lion areas, Gharial and Leopard conflict.

·    We had participants, resource persons and policy makers for zoo legislation from seven countries.

·   We had excellent presentations on zoo legislation from all the countries as well as South Africa and U.K.

·   We had Dr. Brij Gupta of Central Zoo Authority India, who spent a whole day expertly reviewing the Indian zoo legislation scenario for the South Asian zoo participants.  Indian zoo directors delivered presentations on their experience with CZA. 

·   We had Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh representation and all came out with an appropriate action plan for their country.

·   We had agreement that  SAZARC could be useful to them in finalising the process

·   We had a request for SAZARC to adopt official SAZARC Standards based on the WAZA zoo improvement tool.

·   We had a meeting at the office of Gujarat's dynamic Chief Minister spent one full hour speaking

with us.

·   We had a tour to Gir Forest and saw Gir lions in the wild and in captivity at the Safari Park maintained adjacent to Gir.

·   We had a wonderful discussion on Gir’s management with the Conservator of Forest at the Forest Rest House.

·   We visited the Ashoka Stone and were inspired by this first official document on animal welfare, where Asoka declares “abstention from killing animals, abstention from hurting living beings”  

·  We visited the 140 year old Sakkarbaug Zoo founded for displaced Gir Lions, and saw their amazing new enclosures.   

·   We decided to hold next SAZARC in Sri Lanka and elected an Additional Secretary with much zoo exposure and interest as our President for the year. 

Donors: The sponsors of the conference are: Chester Zoo, UK; Benindi Fund, UK; Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, UK; Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens, UK; Awley People and Wildlife, France; Knowsley Safari Par, UK; Apenheul Primate Park, Netherlands; Asoociation of British Wild Animal Keepers, UK; Saint Louis Zoo, USA; Paignton Zoo, UK; Metro-Toronto Zoo, Canada; Skansen-Akvariet, Sweden.

Local Sponsors: Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation; Indian Inovatix Ltd; Helpro Health Products Ltd; Zydus AHL; Rakesh Pharmaceuticals; Jaldhara Super Star Amusement Pvt Ltd