Zoo animals to be subjected to blood tests

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 30. All the inmates in the City Zoo would be subjected to random blood smear tests starting from July 31, with the Central Zoo Authority directing all zoos to take steps on a war footing to prevent the death of endangered species due to infections.

The directive has been issued in the wake of the mass mortality of tigers in the Nandankanan Zoo in Orissa due to the deadly parasitic infection, Tripanosomiasis. The Zoo Director-in-charge, Mr. K.V. Raveendran, said all the suggested measures were being implemented.

Apart from conducting blood tests, the zoo authorities have been directed to draw up a list of carnivores for which suitable enclosures are not available, so that such inmates can be transferred to other zoos where appropriate enclosures are available. Essential medicines should be procured in reasonable quantities and kept ready in the zoo hospital.

The Zoo Authority has also directed that separate feeding cubicles be provided for each individual of the endangered species. The hygiene in the surroundings should be improved by removing weeds and bushes to reduce the vector load. The moats and sewer lines should be cleaned and waste deposits removed on a war footing.

The Zoo Vet, Dr. Abdul Salam, said the blood samples would be tested in the zoo hospital as well as at the Institute of Animal Health at Palode near here and the Zoo Authority intimated about the results. "We will be concentrating on the large cats as these are more susceptible to Tripanosomiasis infection," he said.

Dr. Salam said a drop of blood each would be extracted from the tail tip of the big cats after putting them in squeeze-cages. However, a drawback was that there was less than 50 per cent chance of the Tripanosomiasis protozoa showing up in peripheral blood in the early stages of the disease.

With the zoo modernisation project yet to make headway, the officials are finding it difficult to implement the Central Authority's directive of having separate feeding cubicles for the inmates. At present, the exhibition area and the retrieval area (private quarters) are the same in the case of several species.

Meanwhile, it is being pointed out that the high rate of in- breeding in the zoo, especially of animals such as deer, has brought down the immunity levels of the inmates. The lack of a national policy on inter-zoo transfer of animals to ensure that fresh stock is infused from time to time, is being felt.

For instance, when five Black Bucks in-breed and multiply to 20 in six years or so, their vitality decreases proportionately.

Says an official, "A masterplan should be prepared since transportation of animals is a costly and laborious process. Regular transfers should be ensured at least among the regional zoos."

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Thousands perform 'vavu bali'
Next     : Plea for enquiry into 'misuse of power'