Mysuru zoo crosses another milestone

Secures ISO 9001:8000 certification to improve quality of service

The zoo will now document and implement its quality management system as per international standards.— file Photo: M.A. Sriram

Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, popularly known as Mysuru zoo, has achieved another landmark.

In a span of three months, the zoo has secured the ISO 9001:8008 Certification.

“With the vision of improving the quality of services, the zoo went for the certification, which was accorded on February 28,” said Zoo Director B.P. Ravi.

The zoo will document and implement its quality management system as per the International Standard ISO 9001:2008, he said.

The system was audited and certified by TUV Inter Cert Saar India Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru, a subsidiary of TUV Inter Cert Gmbh, Germany.

Accreditation

Incidentally, the certificate is accredited by the Quality Council of India (QCI), an institution jointly set up by the Government of India and its apex industry associations, according to the zoo.

The zoo has kept a management system to ensure quality service to its visitors. “The infrastructure, process and the system at the zoo is excellent and it is therefore a potential organisation for other international certificates like ISO 14000 series, (Environmental Management Systems) and ISO 18000 series (occupational health and safety management systems),” according to B. Vasudeva Murthy, QCI-NBQP Consultant.

What are the benefits?

This certification enables the zoo staff to manage operations successfully, besides creating awareness about the quality and job satisfaction among the staff.

The certification provides a means for documenting the zoo’s experience and serves as the basis for training the staff. It provides data that can be used to determine the performance levels of operating process and services, and to achieve improvement.

After securing the much-awaited membership from the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the responsibilities of the zoo have gone up as the zoo is bound to maintain high standards in areas like husbandry and veterinary care; maintain animal record systems; conduct environmental education programmes and conservation activities; comply with ethical guidelines and so on.