A controversy has emerged at the Delhi Zoo regarding the death of a jackal, with assistant keeper Nand Bahadur Rana asserting that he observed the animal inside the Himalayan black bear enclosure on December 18. This claim directly contradicts zoo curator Manoj Kumar's earlier statements, which asserted that no jackal was ever found in the enclosure. The issue began when the National Zoo Workers’ Union alleged that the jackal had died after being burned in the enclosure, with claims that chilli powder was used to flush it out. Following an inquiry, the zoo concluded that there was no evidence to support these allegations. In his April 11 submission, Rana detailed how he was informed of the jackal's presence and took steps to prevent the bear's release into the enclosure. However, he claimed he was instructed not to document the sighting in official records due to previous negative reports about the zoo. Despite efforts to locate the jackal, it was later found motionless in a burrow. Kumar acknowledged that chilli and smoke were used during the operation but insisted that no jackal was sighted in the enclosure. The zoo director has not responded to inquiries regarding the situation.