Why was the AN Jha Deer Park's zoo license revoked?

The license was revoked by the Central Zoo Authority due to failures in curbing inbreeding and lapses in basic animal care norms.

What is happening to the deer at AN Jha Deer Park?

Nearly 400 deer remain at the park while its future is debated, with relocation plans stalled due to resident petitions and legal proceedings.

Who is responsible for the deer at AN Jha Deer Park now?

The Delhi Development Authority, a land-owning agency, is currently responsible, though it lacks formal wildlife management expertise.

Home / Environment / Delhi Deer Park's Future Uncertain Amid Bureaucratic Maze

Delhi Deer Park's Future Uncertain Amid Bureaucratic Maze

28 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Nearly 400 deer remain in Delhi's AN Jha Deer Park without a zoo license.
The park's zoo license was revoked due to inbreeding and animal care lapses.
Residents petitioned the high court, halting deer relocation plans.

Delhi Deer Park's Future Uncertain Amid Bureaucratic Maze

Delhi's AN Jha Deer Park, once a beloved 'mini zoo', now faces an uncertain future for its nearly 400 deer. The Central Zoo Authority revoked its license in June 2023, citing inbreeding and inadequate animal care. Despite plans to relocate the herd to Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary and forest patches in Rajasthan, resident petitions to the Delhi high court have halted the process. The park currently operates without the specialized management required of a zoo.

The absence of a license and ongoing legal proceedings have left the deer's fate in procedural limbo. While the Supreme Court has stayed any translocation, the park's management, the Delhi Development Authority, lacks formal expertise in wildlife management. Conservationists express concern over the lack of official monitoring and the suitability of the park's enclosure for its large herd, which has grown significantly since its establishment.