Written by Sophiya MathewNew Delhi | Updated: January 17, 2026 05:30 AM IST 3 min readCCTV footage from key National Zoo enclosures missing amid probe into alleged killing of jackal inside bear enclosure.Since December 5, at least 12 days of CCTV camera footage from key locations at the National Zoological Park in Delhi, including the Himalayan black bear enclosure – the area a jackal allegedly entered after it escaped from its own enclosure – are unavailable. It was during this time that a ranger allegedly killed the jackal “by burning it alive inside the bear’s burrow”, the National Zoo Workers Union has alleged.According to a technical report submitted to the Joint Director of the zoo – the officer probing the matter – several cameras, including those covering the enclosure where the jackal is alleged to have entered an underground burrow, had gone offline due to a “hard disk failure”.This comes amid the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Thursday removing the ranger, who was holding additional charge of ranges I and II and also allegedly overseeing the operation to catch the jackal.According to an order, the officer will now officiate as the zoo curator. While the animal veterinary officer (contractual) has been given additional charge of Range I, the security supervisor will have the additional charge of Range II until the inquiry is completed.As per the technical report, from the morning of December 5, “due to failure of lighting operations, a lot of cameras have not functioned and got totally switched off” and that the footage could not be retrieved due to “rewinding technical issues”.It added that at least 32 pan-tilt-zoom cameras remained non-functional until December 16. The zoo has 465 cameras, including dome and fixed cameras.A senior zoo official said such failures were “against protocol” and should have been immediately rectified once detected.In a letter to the ministry earlier this week, the union had sought directions to preserve all CCTV footage from December 14 to 20, calling it “vital electronic evidence”.Story continues below this adAnother internal report, based on available footage of the Himalayan black bear enclosure, stated that no jackal was sighted there between December 16 and 18.On December 18, cameras allegedly recorded the presence of a “cat-like creature” and a peacock, with “no sighting of a jackal outside the bear’s burrow”. The report also noted that around noon, “two staffers were seen taking away something”.Sources in the zoo said the inquiry is ongoing, with statements being recorded from all personnel involved in enclosure-related activities during the relevant period.A senior zoo official and around six daily-wage workers have been questioned so far.Last November, four jackals had escaped from their enclosure at the Delhi zoo. While zoo authorities later said all animals were accounted for, the National Zoo Workers Union had alleged that one jackal was unlawfully killed in December after entering the Himalayan black bear enclosure, prompting the Environment Ministry to order a probe.Sophiya Mathew is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She joined the Delhi bureau in 2024, and has specialization in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Professional Background Core Beats: Her reporting is primarily focused on the Environment and Education. Specialization: She has gained recognition for her ground-level reporting on the Yamuna floodplains and the socio-economic challenges faced by those living on its banks. She also focuses on the disparities in Delhi's education system, ranging from elite private schools to government institutions and refugee education. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent work has been heavily centered on Delhi's severe winter pollution crisis and the government's regulatory responses: 1. The Air Pollution Crisis "A tale of two cities: Delhi govt schools choke in bad air, private classrooms set up air filters" (Dec 20, 2025): A high-impact feature contrasting the "Clean Air Bubbles" in elite schools with the reality of government school students who are exposed to an equivalent of 17 cigarettes a day due to outdoor exposure. "Delhi sees season's worst air day, second worst December AQI in nearly a decade" (Dec 15, 2025): An analytical report on the meteorological patterns trapping pollutants in the NCR. "Delhi bans non-BS VI vehicles from outside: Why curbing vehicular pollution is key" (Dec 17, 2025): Explaining the science behind targeting specific vehicle vintages to lower particulate matter. 2. Enforcement & Regulations "No fuel at pumps in Delhi without valid PUC certificate from December 18" (Dec 17, 2025): Breaking the news on the environment ministry's strict "No PUC, No Fuel" policy. 3. Education Policy "Law to regulate school fee in Delhi risks becoming procedural, say parents" (Dec 13, 2025): Investigating the loopholes in the new Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025. "Monsoon Session: Private school fee regulation Bill cleared after four-hour debate" (Aug 9, 2025): Covering the legislative passage of the controversial fee hike regulation. Signature Style Sophiya is known for her observational depth. Her reporting often includes vivid details from school corridors, hospital waitlists, or the banks of the Yamuna to illustrate how policy failures affect the city's most vulnerable residents. She is a frequent expert guest on the 3 Things podcast, where she explains the complexities of Delhi’s environmental laws. X (Twitter): @SophiyaMathew1 ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:New Delhi