In addition to gameplay and visuals, the storytelling in "Black Myth: Wukong" continues to captivate players with its rich narrative and engaging characters. The update delves deeper into the mythology of "Journey to the West," unraveling new mysteries and secrets that shed light on Wukong's past and his destiny. The dialogue, voice acting, and music all come together to create a cinematic experience that is both compelling and emotionally resonant.Title: New Monster Moves in "Black Myth: Wukong" - Meet the Stylish Tiger Vanguard!
Matt Gaetz left Congress, withdrew from attorney general consideration, and joined Cameo all in just over a week. Matt Gaetz left Congress, withdrew from attorney general consideration, and joined Cameo all in just over a week. Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images Matt Gaetz is pulling a George Santos . The Florida Republican has gone from a sitting member of Congress to selling custom videos on Cameo in about the span of a week. On Friday, as first noticed by Semafor political reporter Kadia Goba, Matt Gaetz opened up an official account on Cameo, a website that allows celebrities to sell custom message videos to fans. When Gaetz opened the account, he priced his videos at $250 before quickly updating the price to $500. As of publishing, Gaetz is now selling Cameo videos for $525. Matt Gaetz's Cameo page Credit: Mashable screenshot via Cameo Gaetz has already sold and... Matt Binder
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 12, 2024-- E2open Parent Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ETWO), the connected supply chain SaaS platform with the largest multi-enterprise network, today announced that it will report its fiscal third quarter 2025 financial results after the U.S. financial markets close on Thursday, January 9, 2025. E2open management will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on that day to discuss the financial results and other business highlights. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 888-506-0062 (domestic) or 973-528-0011 (international). The conference ID is 588291. Additionally, a live webcast of the conference call will be available in the "Investor Relations" section of the company's website at www.e2open.com . Following the conference call, a replay will be available through January 23, 2025, at 877-481-4010 (domestic) or 919-882-2331 (international). The replay passcode is 51733. An archived webcast of this conference call will also be available after the completion of the call in the "Investor Relations" section of the company's website at www.e2open.com . About e2open E2open is the connected supply chain software platform that enables the world’s largest companies to transform the way they make, move, and sell goods and services. With the broadest cloud-native global platform purpose-built for modern supply chains, e2open connects more than 480,000 manufacturing, logistics, channel, and distribution partners as one multi-enterprise network tracking over 16 billion transactions annually. Our SaaS platform anticipates disruptions and opportunities to help companies improve efficiency, reduce waste, and operate sustainably. Moving as one.TM Learn More: www.e2open.com . E2open and “Moving as one.” are the registered trademarks of E2open, LLC. All other trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212282105/en/ CONTACT: Investor Contact Russell Johnson russell.johnson@e2open.com investor.relations@e2open.comMedia Contact 5W PR for e2open e2open@5wpr.com 408-504-7707Corporate Contact Kristin Seigworth VP Communications, e2open kristin.seigworth@e2open.com pr@e2open.com KEYWORD: TEXAS UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY TRANSPORT LOGISTICS/SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SOURCE: E2open Parent Holdings, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/12/2024 04:17 PM/DISC: 12/12/2024 04:17 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212282105/enRico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. , the players’ association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. No further details on Carty’s death were provided. “Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latino stars in the major leagues, and he established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favorite,” the players’ association said . The Braves said Carty left on the organization. “While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed,” the team said in its statement. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise’s first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield. Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season. ___ AP MLB:In conclusion, the increase in accusations against Manchester City to 130 items has sent shockwaves through the football world and raised serious questions about the integrity of the club and the governance of the sport. It is essential that these allegations are thoroughly investigated and addressed to uphold the values of fair play and transparency in football. The coming weeks and months will be crucial in determining the outcome of this scandal and its impact on Manchester City and the Premier League as a whole.
The decision to merge the worlds of Halo and Indiana Jones speaks to the creative vision and innovative thinking of the developers at 343 Industries. By introducing this unexpected twist, they have not only captured the attention of existing fans but also piqued the interest of a wider audience who may be drawn to the unique blend of science fiction and adventure that this collaboration promises.AliCloud, the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group, has once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting the gaming industry with the successful launch of the highly anticipated new game "Endless Warmth" on a global scale. The game, known for its innovative gameplay and captivating storyline, has captured the hearts of gamers worldwide and is now available on multiple platforms thanks to the robust infrastructure provided by AliCloud.
Match 9: Besiktas vs. Borussia Dortmund
In conclusion, the latest statistics released by the Yunnan Statistics Bureau emphasize the province's relatively light burden of labor force support and the advantages it enjoys in terms of population dividend compared to the national level. By harnessing its demographic advantages, investing in human capital, and leveraging its natural resources, Yunnan is well-positioned to sustain economic growth, attract investment, and enhance competitiveness. As the province continues to develop and diversify its economy, it has the potential to emerge as a key player in China's economic landscape and contribute to the nation's overall prosperity.With its innovative blend of Chinese mythology and modern game design, "Black Myth: Wu Kong" stands out as a bold and ambitious project that pushes the boundaries of video game storytelling and creativity. The dedication and passion of the development team shine through in every aspect of the game, from its intricate character designs to its breathtaking environments and captivating narrative.
When you think of the greatest offensive center of all time, who comes to mind? If the name Shaquille O'Neal or Hakeem Olajuwon immediately popped up in your head, you might be on the right track. However, Fat Joe took a completely different approach, as his GOAT for an offensive center just so happens to be New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns. Rapper Fat Joe was a recent guest on future Hall-of-Famer Carmelo Anthony's podcast, 7pm in Brooklyn , where the conversation centered around New York fashion, his once-in-a-lifetime World Series experience, and of course, New York basketball. As the conversation continued, the hip-hop legend then began expressing his admiration for Towns. He immediately states "I don't think I've seen a better offensive big man than KAT". Joe then went on to list his reasons as to why he believed in this statement so strongly. Fat Joe ultimately summed up KAT's game as "he's too hard to guard". The New York rapper says Towns' has more offensive moves in his arsenal than anyone he's ever seen at the position. He mentioned KAT's ability to shift his body in different positions to get to the rim, give his defender a number of different moves to the basket, and score from all areas of the floor. He also went on to reconfirm KAT is better than every NBA legend to date, including NBA superstars like Shaquille O'Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon. He says Shaq is the "most dominant big man ever", but offensively, Fat Joe stood ten toes down on his take. "I've sat in the game and watched KAT do ten moves. You cannot know what he's gonna give you. Hit em' with the left. Hit em' with the right. Spin on you this way, that way, that way. That's impossible to guard...best offensively ever. I'm talking about Olajuwon, Shaq is the most dominant big man but he ain't doing this...my take is he's too hard to guard." Is KAT the best offensive big man EVER? 🧐 Fat Joe did not hold back with this take. pic.twitter.com/yh0Esj1I27 Fans have been in an uproar since the clip of this conversation began circling the internet, with many saying he's disrespecting our NBA legends. Many are also in shock Fat Joe would give this title to KAT and not Denver Nuggets Center and three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokcić. Although lots of fans would disagree with KAT being the greatest offensive center of all time, he is off to a great start offensively in his new home with the New York Knicks. He plays a significant role in the Knicks offense averaging 24.9 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. That said, it's easy to disagree with the statement while also taking nothing away from the incredible career Towns has been able to put together. He is also clearly in good standings with the fans in New York, and we can expect to see lots of great things coming from the big man in the future. For more NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports .Hunter, the 2-way standout for Colorado, is AP college football player of the year
2024 is coming to an end, and the future of TikTok in the United States is uncertain. ByteDance has until January 19th to sell TikTok, or the app will become unavailable in the U.S., with the Supreme Court reviewing the case on January 10th. Until then, we can enjoy the app while we can - with what could be the last bunch of our weekly roundups. Celebrities have been using the app to share a look into their lives, creativity, and or just a place to be silly all year. Enjoy the last roundup of the best celebrity TikToks 2024. 1. Kim and North North West shows off her Christmas outfit, which sparked backlash, with her mom Kim Kardashian . The duo loves hitting a quick dance move on the app and the reality star has become more comfortable showing off her shimmy. 😭😭@Kim Kardashian 2. David Beckham David Beckham shares one of his family Christmas traditions carving into the succulent turkey that his wife Victoria Beckham spent the entire day cooking. Traditional cutting of the turkey that mums been cooking all day !!👩🍳 Happy Christmas, good job @Victoria Beckham 🎅🏼 3. Paris Hilton Paris Hilton wasn't going to let Kim Kardashian be the only one that made Christmas sexy. The queen of sliving went viral after she shared a video on her social media platforms dancing in front of the Christmas tree wearing only a bow. My presence is a present 💅🏼🎁🎀 #ThatsHot 🔥 #Slivmas 4. Reese Witherspoon Reese Witherspoon enjoys a martini and shows off her dance moves with the perfect TikTok sound. Wait, how does this match so perfectly?! 🤯 5,6, believe in yourself! ✨ 5. Eva Longoria Eva Longoria wishes fans a feliz navidad with her adorable son Santiago. Feliz Navidad 🎄 Pet of the week: Watch these adorable dogs seeing snow for the first time A guide to keep track of your chakras Watch the most viral celebrity TikToks of 2024 6. Victoria Beckham Victoria Beckham shares a look into their family Christmas that included a special visit from Santa Claus, proving he didn't just visit Marc Anthony and Nadia Ferreira's celebration. Look who stopped by for a sing along!! 🤣🎅 Kisses @David Beckham @Brooklyn Beckham @Romeo Beckham @Cruz Beckham #HarperSeven xx 7. Benny Blanco Benny Blanco shows what it's like to be famous attending "random parties," sharing a clip of Nicholas Britell , writer of the Succession theme song, jumping on a piano. omg !!!! 8. Selena Gomez Selena Gomez , who recently got engaged , shares what she says is her usual everyday go-to look and looks stunning. Usually my everday 9. Hailey Bieber Hailey Bieber shows off her shimmering Christmas look and perfect pout. ✨🪩🎄🎄🎄 10. Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lopez invites fans to see what her Christmas looked like with her family. The singer was wearing her engagement ring in Aspen with her sister and their children. Merry Christmas Eve to you and yours 🤍🎄FILE – Author Percival Everett attends the 75th National Book Awards ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File) FILE – Taylor Swift performs during “The Eras Tour” on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File) FILE – Riley Keough, left, and her mother Lisa Marie Presley arrive at the 24th annual ELLE Women in Hollywood Awards on Oct. 16, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) FILE – First lady Melania Trump stands next to the 2020 Official White House Christmas tree as it is presented on the North Portico of the White House, Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE – This cover image released by FSG shows “Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney. (FSG via AP, File) FILE – This cover image released by Random House shows “From Here to the Great Unknown” by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough. (Random House via AP, File) FILE – This cover image released by Simon & Schuster shows “War” by Bob Woodward. (Simon & Schuster via AP, File) FILE – This cover image released by Dey Street Books shows “Cher: The Memoir, Part One,” releasing on Nov. 19. (Dey Street Books via AP, File) FILE – This cover image released by Random House shows “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder” by Salman Rushdie. The book, about the attempt on his life that left him blind in his right eye, will be published April 16, 2024. Rushdie’s first book since the 2022 stabbing he thought might end his life is both explicit in the violence Rushdie sustains and heroic in the will to live that Rushdie retains. (Random House via AP, File) FILE – Author Percival Everett attends the 75th National Book Awards ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File) By HILLEL ITALIE NEW YORK (AP) — Even through a year of nonstop news about elections, climate change, protests and the price of eggs, there was still time to read books. Related Articles Books | Nikki Giovanni, poet and literary celebrity, has died at 81 Books | Percival Everett, 2024 National Book Award winner, rereads one book often Books | Gift books for 2024: What to give, and what to receive, for all kinds of readers Books | Our critic’s picks: Best mystery fiction books of 2024 Books | 10 best books of 2024: The surprising reads that stuck U.S. sales held steady according to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print market, with many choosing the relief of romance, fantasy and romantasy. Some picked up Taylor Swift’s tie-in book to her blockbuster tour, while others sought out literary fiction, celebrity memoirs, political exposes and a close and painful look at a generation hooked on smartphones. Here are 10 notable books published in 2024, in no particular order. Asking about the year’s hottest reads would basically yield a list of the biggest hits in romantasy, the blend of fantasy and romance that has proved so irresistible fans were snapping up expensive “special editions” with decorative covers and sprayed edges. Of the 25 top sellers of 2024, as compiled by Circana, six were by romantasy favorite Sarah J. Maas, including “House of Flame and Shadow,” the third of her “Crescent City” series. Millions read her latest installment about Bryce Quinlan and Hunter Athalar and traced the ever-growing ties of “Maasverse,” the overlapping worlds of “Crescent City” and her other series, “Throne of Glass” and “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” If romantasy is for escape, other books demand we confront. In the bestselling “The Anxious Generation,” social psychologist Jonathan Haidt looks into studies finding that the mental health of young people began to deteriorate in the 2010s, after decades of progress. According to Haidt, the main culprit is right before us: digital screens that have drawn kids away from “play-based” to “phone-based” childhoods. Although some critics challenged his findings, “The Anxious Generation” became a talking point and a catchphrase. Admirers ranged from Oprah Winfrey to Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee, who in a letter to state legislators advocated such “commonsense recommendations” from the book as banning phones in schools and keeping kids off social media until age 16. Bob Woodward books have been an election tradition for decades. “War,” the latest of his highly sourced Washington insider accounts, made news with its allegations that Donald Trump had been in frequent contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin even while out of office and, while president, had sent Putin sophisticated COVID-19 test machines. Among Woodward’s other scoops: Putin seriously considered using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and President Joe Biden blamed former President Barack Obama, under whom he served as vice president, for some of the problems with Russia. “Barack never took Putin seriously,” Woodward quoted Biden as saying. Former (and future) first lady Melania Trump, who gives few interviews and rarely discusses her private life, unexpectedly announced she was publishing a memoir: “Melania.” The publisher was unlikely for a former first lady — not one of the major New York houses, but Skyhorse, where authors include such controversial public figures as Woody Allen and Trump cabinet nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And its success was at least a minor surprise. Melania Trump did little publicity for the book, and offered few revelations beyond posting a video expressing support for abortion rights — a break from one of the cornerstones of GOP policy. But “Melania” still sold hundreds of thousands of copies, many in the days following her husband’s election. Taylor Swift was more than a music story in 2024. Like “Melania,” the news about Taylor Swift’s self-published tie-in to her global tour isn’t so much the book itself, but that it exists. And how well it sold. As she did with the “Eras” concert film, Swift bypassed the established industry and worked directly with a distributor: Target offered “The Eras Tour Book” exclusively. According to Circana, the “Eras” book sold more than 800,000 copies just in its opening week, an astonishing number for a publication unavailable through Amazon.com and other traditional retailers. No new book in 2024 had a better debut. Midnight book parties are supposed to be for “Harry Potter” and other fantasy series, but this fall, more than 100 stores stayed open late to welcome one of the year’s literary events: Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo.” The Irish author’s fourth novel centers on two brothers, their grief over the death of their father, their very different career paths and their very unsettled love lives. “Intermezzo” was also a book about chess: “You have to read a lot of opening theory — that’s the beginning of a game, the first moves,” one of the brothers explains. “And you’re learning all this for what? Just to get an okay position in the middle game and try to play some decent chess. Which most of the time I can’t do anyway.” Lisa Marie Presley had been working on a memoir at the time of her death , in 2023, and daughter Riley Keough had agreed to help her complete it. “From Here to the Great Unknown” is Lisa Marie’s account of her father, Elvis Presley, and the sagas of of her adult life, notably her marriage to Michael Jackson and the death of son Benjamin Keough. To the end, she was haunted by the loss of Elvis, just 42 when he collapsed and died at his Graceland home while young Lisa Marie was asleep. “She would listen to his music alone, if she was drunk, and cry,” Keough, during an interview with Winfrey, said of her mother. Meanwhile, Cher released the first of two planned memoirs titled “Cher” — no further introduction required. Covering her life from birth to the end of the 1970s, she focuses on her ill-fated marriage to Sonny Bono, remembering him as a gifted entertainer and businessman who helped her believe in herself while turning out to be unfaithful, erratic, controlling and so greedy that he kept all the couple’s earnings for himself. Unsure of whether to leave or stay, she consulted a very famous divorcee, Lucille Ball, who reportedly encouraged her: “F— him, you’re the one with the talent.” A trend in recent years is to take famous novels from the past, and remove words or passages that might offend modern readers; an edition of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” cuts the racist language from Mark Twain’s original text. In the most celebrated literary work of 2024, Percival Everett found a different way to take on Twain’s classic — write it from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. “James,” winner of the National Book Award, is a recasting in many ways. Everett suggests to us that the real Jim was nothing like the deferential figure known to millions of readers, but a savvy and learned man who concealed his intelligence from the whites around him, and even from Twain himself. Salman Rushdie’s first National Book Award nomination was for a memoir he wished he had no reason to write. In “Knife,” he recounts in full detail the horrifying attempt on his life in 2022, when an attendee rushed the stage during a literary event in western New York and stabbed him repeatedly, leaving with him a blinded eye and lasting nerve damage, but with a spirit surprisingly intact. “If you had told me that this was going to happen and how would I deal with it, I would not have been very optimistic about my chances,” he told The Associated Press last spring. “I’m still myself, you know, and I don’t feel other than myself. But there’s a little iron in the soul, I think.”The move by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) to suspend the membership of the Delhi’s National Zoological Park (originally the Delhi zoo) has sparked much debate on the animal welfare framework in Indian zoos. On October 7, WAZA notified suspension of the Delhi zoo’s WAZA membership, effective from October 8, 2024, with the possibility of cancellation if the conditions laid down by WAZA in the said notification are not fulfilled by the zoo by April 7, 2025. The decision has evoked shock but also relief as the Delhi zoo’s 29-year-old African male elephant, Shankar, which was given to India as a diplomatic gift by Zimbabwe in 1998, has been consistently neglected. Shankar had a female companion which passed away in 2005 and was never replaced. The male elephant exhibits maladaptive behaviour. This situation is problematic as elephants are extremely social animals forming complex relationships. WAZA was made aware of the elephant’s plight through numerous complaints. A team from WAZA also visited the zoo on March 18, 2024, which showed the elephant to be in a poor physical and mental state. It was found to be tethered by a chain in a solitary enclosure without the normal stimulants or the immersive environment found in the wild which keep elephants content and healthy. The WAZA team thereafter urged the Delhi zoo to take note of the elephant’s plight and act within the next 15 days to end the animal’s suffering in line with WAZA’s Animal Welfare Strategy which specifies the ‘Five Domains Animal Welfare Model’. Nothing substantial was ever done, compelling WAZA to indefinitely suspend the Delhi zoo’s WAZA membership. But this suspension has been made subject to two conditions: either get the animal relocated or address its health concerns by April 7, 2025. The deplorable condition of the elephant goes against every ideal of WAZA carved out through its science-based knowledge in animal care and welfare, environmental education and global conservation, since its inception in 1935, with the aim of guiding zoos and aquariums across the world and ensuring animal welfare and conservation. Plight of other elephants Delhi zoo also has two Asian elephants — a male and a female. It is hard to ignore the mental distress that these Asian elephants exhibit through their incessant ‘head-bobbing’, which is a classic sign of mental distress in elephants. The elephants are also in an enclosure with insufficient area. It is agonising to see them in distress. Studies suggest that on average, a wild elephants, under non-extreme environmental conditions, walk for up to 10 kilometres a day. They also forage in a forest for up to 19 hours a day during which they undertake a range of behaviours that are regarded as essential for their survival. It appears that it was the poor nutrition, unsuitable environment and poor physical health of Shankar which compelled WAZA to act against the Delhi zoo. Notably, these are also problems which affect the two Asian elephants causing them to lose motivation to undertake survival-related behaviours. The situation at the Delhi zoo is an outright violation of global standards in the maintenance of zoos and its animals in other countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland. The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), in its ‘Management Guidelines for the Welfare of Elephants’, states that zoos must ensure that the standards of husbandry practices, housing, health and welfare management of elephants are humane, appropriate and in line with their intelligence, social behaviour and longevity. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) of the United Kingdom, in its ‘Standards of Modern Zoo Practice’, acknowledges that as elephants are highly-intelligent animals with large natural ranges and a complex social life, meeting their needs in captivity is challenging. It further states in paragraph 8.8.4 that elephants have to be kept in stable, female groups with matriarchal herds being the norm and that even the non-productive, older or problem elephants have to be kept in groups considering their indispensable need to socialise. In paragraph 8.8.6, it further states that even the bull elephants in musth, if separated from cows or other bulls, cannot be subjected to prolonged physical or social isolation from other elephants. But the Delhi zoo has kept Shankar in social isolation for a very long time. Pertinently, in paragraph 8.8.5, it states that female elephants must have contact with other female elephants at all times and shall ideally be part of a group of at least four female elephants that are over two years old. The female Asian elephant has not had any female company for a very long time. Thus, the zoo is violating every single one of these global standards despite being the object of international censure. CZA is remiss in statutory duties It is hard to believe that the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, has not been aware of the rampant violations of law at the zoo, being the nodal authority under the said Act. These violations seem all the more worrisome considering the fact that in 1982, the Delhi zoo was renamed as the National Zoological Park with the idea of it being the model zoo of the country. If its poor management so far is any indication, the zoo has only been a major let-down for animal rights activists. As a member of WAZA, the CZA has been repeatedly informed by WAZA, since at least March of this year, about the shortcomings in its approach when it comes to the framing and enforcement of up-to-date guidelines–in line with the global norms–regarding animal welfare applicable to zoos across India. The CZA, by letting the zoo deprive its elephants of the company of other elephants and a healthy environment, and by not addressing their mental and physical health needs, is violating its statutory duty as can be inferred from a conjoint reading of Section 38C(a) and Section 38H(6) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 — which mandates that the CZA has to specify the minimum standards, in line with global standards — for housing, upkeep and the veterinary care of animals at Indian zoos and that it shall cancel the recognition granted to a zoo if it is found to be failing to meet or maintain those standards. In fact, by not cancelling the recognition of the zoo, the CZA is also violating the scheme of law underlying the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009, wherein the central government has laid down the general standards to be observed by zoos; these include not separating any animal from its group unless it is for the welfare of that animal and ensuring that it is treated for health issues which includes mental health. Considering that elephants have an innate need to live in herds, not being in herds adversely affects their welfare. Thus, the zoo has no justification for the way it has been treating its elephants for so long now. It is bizarre that even though the zoo does not have the infrastructure, the capacity or the suitable environment to keep these majestic animals, it still insists, in the face of condemnation, on having these animals at the cost of their welfare. The CZA has turned a blind eye to the woes of these elephants. Even though it has framed guidelines titled ‘Elephants’ Upkeep in Zoos’, wherein the CZA has emphatically asserted its ban on zoos that lack an appropriate environment for housing elephants, and has asserted that elephants must be housed in small groups, it is baffling that it has not enforced the full rigour of these guidelines. Maybe the CZA should look at and draw inspiration from the work of Indian rescue centres such as ‘Wildlife SOS’, which is dedicated to the care of abused, diseased, wounded and malnourished elephants. It is sad that even though there are robust laws on paper regarding elephant care and welfare which empower the CZA to resolve these problems, it has not been enforcing these laws the way it ought to. Perhaps, this is because the law does not prescribe any consequences for CZA itself in cases where the CZA wilfully neglects to discharge its statutory duties. It would help if the Indian government introduces checks and balances in the law with respect to the CZA and even for errant zoos that do not follow prescribed standards of animal care. The CZA has fallen short of the expectations of animal rights advocates and there are huge shortcomings in its attitude towards its statutory duties. Ethical dilemma While it would not be right to denounce the Delhi zoo solely based on its callous handling of its elephants, it does beg the question: is it even ethical for any zoo to have such animals when it does not have the infrastructure or the capacity to have them? Delhi zoo and the CZA have clearly sprung into action and are now looking at long term and ‘WAZA-worthy’ solutions to the problems of their elephants. With WAZA indicating in its October 7 notice that it might also cancel the CZA’s WAZA membership, WAZA’s membership of nine Indian zoos hangs in the balance. If the CZA’s WAZA membership is cancelled, it will spell disaster for India’s animal welfare and conservation efforts. The CZA must ensure that it complies with all the conditions which have been set out by WAZA and also make sure that the Delhi zoo has its house in order soon. Nipun Bhushan is an advocate practising law at various courts across Delhi with a focus on the environment and sustainability Published - December 28, 2024 04:00 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Delhi / parks / wildlife / welfare / animal science / environmental issues / conservation / United Kingdom / Ireland / laws / diplomacy