JAIPUR: A day after the death of a tiger, an Asiatic lionsuffering from leptospirosisdied at the city’s Nahargarh Biological Park on Wednesday.
The eight-and-half-year-old lion, Siddharth, was brought to the park from Gujarat two years ago.
An official said, on June 4, for the first time blood was observed in the urine of Rudra, a 18-month-old tiger, which died on Tuesday. Similar symptoms were found in Siddharth since June 5.
Treatment was provided to big cats as prescribed by the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) doctors.
TimesView
The death of big cats at regular intervals at the city's Nahargarh Biological Park hints at negligence on the part of zoo administration. While it is the duty of veterinary specialists to keep a continuous watch on the health of animals, they have been dying mysteriously. If the zoo administration had conducted regular blood tests and medical check-ups, the vets would have known about the infection in big cats. After the death of three big cats within a gap of 10 days in September last year, forest and environment minister Sukhram Bishnoi had visited the park and pulled up the officials. But no improvement has been seen on the ground. If the park officials had done basic rodent management, the death of big cats could have been averted.
“An infection called leptospirosis, mainly affecting the liver and kidneys of an animal, was detected after the samples of Rudra were taken on June 6. The report of the tiger also discussed with the (IVRI) and (WII) and based on which treatment including fluid therapy was started. Asiatic lion, Siddharth was also undergoing treatment after same symptoms were observed,” a forest official said. The initial post-mortem report revealed that the lion died due to leptospirosis. The park authorities have sent the samples to IVRI for confirmation. Officials, however, ruled out finding symptoms of Covid-19 in the animal.
The death occurred due to negligence of the department as they miserably failed in rodent management. The big cats and other animals in the park are under threat from field rats and mongoose which are present in large numbers and passing on potentially life-threatening diseases to them.
“The main source of leptospirosis infection is rat urine and infected animals can also spread it further. It could also be spread from mongoose urine. Rats and mongooses are in plenty and they need to be kept away from the zoo premises,” a source said.
Sources further said, as the biological park is situated in the sanctuary area, many a times rats and mongooses enter the cages and nibble on the food of wild animals. “Measures need to be taken to control their number and activities. No holes or spaces should be there in enclosures from where rats can enter. If not controlled and diagnosed timely, it can damage kidneys and other organs of other big cats at the park.”
The death toll had reached five at this park in the past 10 months. Now, there are 11 big cats, including three tigers, five leopards and three Asiatic lions.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/day-after-tigers-death-asiatic-lion-dies-at-nahargarh-park/articleshow/76310785.cms
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