The zoo authorities feel that after the death of blackbucks in Delhi zoo due to consumption of polluted water, there was danger to birds such as painted storks, an endangered species. Following a visit to the zoo in August, a two-member committee had warned that these birds could be in danger on account of consumption of polluted water.
The committee had found several problems with the poor sewage system in the zoo. They pointed out that a sewage drain coming from Sunder Nagar flows through zoo carrying stinking liquid waste and falls into the moat meant for avian creatures like adjunct stork and free-living painted storks. These birds usually stay on trees around the water body and the contaminated water may pose health problems for them, it pointed out.