JUST WHEN we thought the Indian political circus had frothed to saturation comes the sobering news that a zoo is coming up over 280 acres in Jamnagar, Gujarat. Promoted as a conservation venture and touted as the CSR initiative of India’s wealthiest industrialist family, it is a pet project of its youngest scion. Exotic species like Komodo Dragons, giraffes and cheetahs are said to be part of the dream menagerie. Securing permissions were a mere formality, and the promoters are now cherry-picking from government zoo collections to bulk up their inventory. Recently, a duo of prize melanistic leopards — exoticised as black panthers — were spirited away from a zoo in Guwahati, setting off whispers about the pliability of the law in the hands of crony capitalists.
A tourist attraction much like a colossal statue in the same state, this for-profit zoo comes across as another way to feed off perverse consumerist curiosity. It is also a sharp U-turn as far as actual conservation is concerned, considering that relatively far-thinking corporate citizens are not spending their spare change on perpetuating the imprisonment of wild animals but on climate action, cleaning up ocean plastic, and restoring degraded habitats. A zoo, on the other hand, is the most facile and deplorable avenue for corporate irresponsibility.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The 2023 Bucket List
Before the world as we know it changes forever, here's a partial list of experiences to try in the year ahead
Do You Have The Time To Read Your Watch?
Audemars Piguet Starwheel Code 11.59 is the latest among watches with unusual layouts
THEY CAME THEY RODE, THEY CONQUERED
FOUR WOMEN BIKERS TRAVERSING THE UNTOUCHED TERRAIN OF EASTERN ARUNACHAL ON THEIR DUCATI MULTISTRADA BIKES. THE 'EXPLORE BEYOND' BIKING EXPEDITION WAS AN INITIATIVE OF ARUNACHAL TOURISM TO SHOWCASE THE STATE AS A SAFE DESTINATION FOR SOLO WOMEN TRAVELLERS. THE RIDE WAS FLAGGED OFF BY CM PEMA KHANDU FROM THE BANKS OF THE SIANG AT PASIGHAT AND WOUND UP AT THE ORANGE FESTIVAL OF ADVENTURE & MUSIC, DAMBUK, WHERE THE BIKERS LET THEIR HAIR DOWN AND PARTIED LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW. YUP, GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN, AND IN ARUNACHAL THEY CAN - SAFELY
ΤΗΕ RIGHT ΤΙΜΕ
AS CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY BECOME BURNING ISSUES, WATCH BRANDS TOO ARE DOING THEIR BIT TO SUPPORT CAUSES, BOTH THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL THE TIMEPIECES THEY ARE CREATING AND THE INITIATIVES THEY ARE UNDERTAKING
THE GOLDENPASS EXPRESS
A LUXURY SWISS WINTER ESCAPE ROUTE
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
WITH BOUTIQUE LODGES AND ΝΟ CROWDS, THE MORE EXCLUSIVE TEHLA ZONE OF SARISKA NATIONAL PARK IS EMERGING AS THE DESTINATION OF CHOICE FOR WILDLIFE ENTHUSIASTS
LAMBORGHINI HURACAN EVO SPYDER TOP-DOWN ADRENALINE MACHINE
A machine sculpted to perfection, the Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder is a sensational car in every sense. It is fast, it's beautiful, and it is just special
CARS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN 2023
WITH THE devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the acute supply chain disruptions caused by it beginning to ease, the automotive industry is rapidly accelerating out of the deep crisis it found itself two years ago.
DATING A SINGLE MOM
IT’S A COOL Friday evening. She is sitting with a cup of hot chocolate and unwinding with her phone. Her dating app has 10 unread messages. She hopes that at least one match will lead to a conversation and a date that weekend.
YOUR SHIP HAS COME IN
Go-karting, the world’s first freefall dry slide on sea, musical shows, spa, artwork... this new ship has raised the bar on many levels!