India, Jan. 15 -- The National Zoological Park (NZP) in Delhi has come under fire following allegations by the zoo workers' union that a jackal, which had escaped its enclosure, died of suffocation inside a Himalayan black bear den after the staff used chilli powder and fire to force it out.

The union claimed the incident occurred last month after the jackal took shelter in a small, packed structure designed for bears to rest. According to the union, the animal was spotted on December 14, after which authorities allegedly ordered its capture "by any means".

The union members alleged that chilli powder was poured into a fire lit at the entrance of the den to smoke the animal out. The jackal, however, could not come out and suffocated to ...