New Delhi: Zoos across the country will soon become smoke-free zones in keeping with the Health Ministry's notification banning smoking in public places.

The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has asked all the zoos to comply with the Healthy Ministry's notification so as to ensure that the health of animals as well their staff is not affected due to nicotine laced air.

"Zoo is a public place. The ban will only provide a safer, healthier and more comfortable environment for visitors, employees and animals, of course," BR Sharma, member secretary of CZA told PTI. There are around 180 recognised zoos all across the country.

Animal rights activists have been demanding a ban on smoking in the zoos since long and the notification, they say, has come as a boon.

Terming the ban as a "progressive" step, chief functionary of People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), India, Anuradha Sawhney, said "animals who are incarcerated in the zoos suffer equally due to passive smoking".

The organisation had written to the CZA for implementation of the ban in the zoos as "passive smoking is injurious to the health of animals too." Sawhney pointed out that visitors have been found deliberately smoking on the face of animals.

"It has also been found that monkeys were handed cigarettes to smoke . The mischief-makers would, just for fun, try to cause cigarette burns on animals," she added.
Source : PTI