In Brief
The Supreme Court upheld the translocation of surplus spotted deer from A.N. Jha Deer Park in New Delhi to wildlife reserves in Rajasthan, following cancellation of the park's zoo recognition for non-compliance with management norms. The Court accepted expert recommendations that the park can sustainably hold only 38 deer based on scientific carrying capacity (1,500 sq. metres per pair). It rejected the petitioner's proposal to expand the enclosure within the urban park, finding translocation scientifically justified and consistent with conservation standards. The Court approved comprehensive wildlife translocation guidelines, directed their statutory implementation within six months, declared the park a protected forest, and banned commercial activities there.
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