Home / Environment / Delhi Deer Park Faces Eviction: Supreme Court to Decide Fate
Delhi Deer Park Faces Eviction: Supreme Court to Decide Fate
17 Mar
Summary
- Park overcrowding and resource issues may lead to deer relocation.
- A panel recommended translocation due to 10x population capacity.
- Park lost 'mini zoo' status for failing to meet animal welfare guidelines.
Delhi's popular Deer Park in Hauz Khas is at risk of losing its deer population. The Supreme Court is set to hear a petition concerning the park's severe overcrowding and inadequate facilities, which a specially constituted panel has flagged.
The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), in a report submitted on March 6, 2026, highlighted that the park, managed by DDA, fails to provide even basic necessities for its deer. A recent assessment by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) revealed a population between 370 and 547 spotted deer, which is approximately ten times the enclosure's sustainable capacity.
The WII report, submitted to the CEC, stated that the 10.26-acre enclosure should ideally house only 38 deer, though the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) suggested a capacity of 50-55. Both bodies recommended translocating the surplus population to tiger reserves in Rajasthan. The park lost its 'mini zoo' tag in June 2023 due to non-compliance with guidelines.
Despite previous translocations of 261 deer between September 2023 and March 2025, the process was halted by a Supreme Court order in November 2025. A December 2025 CZA review noted dismal conditions, including unhygienic facilities, inadequate staffing, and a lack of essential equipment for disease diagnosis and surgery. The DDA is currently operating without a valid license due to these judicial and regulatory constraints.
