Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, August 29: A series of deaths of its inmates in recent days has plagued Nandankanan Zoo, one of the city’s most famous landmarks.
Three nilgais, four antelopes and one endangered caiman crocodile and a gharial died at the zoo in what authorities said were “unnatural” deaths, taking the total number of deaths to nine in quick succession.
Sources said the nilgais died of BQ (Black Quarter) disease while the antelopes died after contracting Haemorrhagic Septicaemia. The caiman crocodile died after getting into a territorial battle with another crocodile inside an enclosure last Sunday.
Deputy director of the zoo Jayanta K Das said the animals contracted the disease despite all efforts by zoo officials to vaccinate the inmates. “Three nilgais and four antelopes died of bacterial and HS diseases. Till 2014, there were no cases of animals contracting these diseases inside the zoo. When we identified the disease in 2014, we began vaccinating all animals at an interval of six months. The animals were to be vaccinated again but before the six months were up, the nilgais and antelopes were diagnosed with the disease. They later died but we had already separated other animals that were not infected with the disease, and vaccinated them,” Das said.
When asked what steps are being taken by the zoo authority to protect other animals from the disease, Das said: “We have taken all precautionary measures to protect other animals from the disease. We have cleaned enclosures 64 and 67 with bleaching and lime powder. We have removed soil from the enclosure and proper sanitization has been done but we won’t put any animal in that enclosure for a few months. As of now, all the other animals in the zoo are safe and for the past one week, no animals have shown any symptoms of the disease.”
The sole surviving caiman crocodile at the zoo was killed last Sunday in a fight with another crocodile after the former managed to crawl out of its enclosure, prompting the zoo management to order an inquiry.
“The caiman species has unfortunately been wiped out at the zoo. We don’t yet know how the last-surviving caiman crocodile managed to enter another enclosure. The 35-year-old croc died after a bloody fight with the other crocodile,” said Das, adding an inquiry has been ordered and that those found to be responsible will face action.