PETA protests giraffe's death at Alipore Zoo

Kolkata, May 27 (UNI) People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) will demonstrate in front of the Alipore Zoological Gardens here tomorrow to protest the death of a giraffe due to electrocution while it was being taken to the Nandankanan Zoo at Bhubaneswar.

''This is not the first time that the zoo has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has threatened to derecognise it in 2004 for its failure to adhere to the Zoo Rules,'' PETA campaign coordinator Sachin Bangera said here today.

He also informed that the PETA had conducted investigations and exposed the abysmal conditions of the zoo in 2006.

''In 2007, we had written to the CZA on enclosure issues after a chimpanzee escaped from its enclosure. In November 2007 the CZA had directed the zoo to stop breeding after the birth of three giraffes and a hippopotamus,'' he further said.

''Sundar'', the eleven-year-old male giraffe was electrocuted on May 23.

Veterinary surgeon of Nandankanan Zoo R K Samantaray said the giraffe was being taken in a trailer to Bhubaneswar as part of an exchange programme.

It was electrocuted when its neck, rising high over a roofless cage, touched an overhead electric wire on Bombay road near Bagnan in Howrah district.

The animal, which was being escorted by a seven-member team, was brought back to Kolkata Zoo next morning where veterinary doctors battled in vain to save its life.

Describing the incident as an accident, Kolkata Zoo Director Subir Roy Chowdhury claimed that there was no dereliction of duty on anybody's part for the death of the giraffe.

However, Mr Bangera said, the driver of the vehicle, which was carrying the animal, decided to keep on driving rather than take the animal for immediate medical aid.

Sundar, suffered for hours before finally succumbing to his injuries.

He said the PETA activists will carry placards stating - ''Alipore Zoo - Hell on Earth for Animals'' and ''Close Down Alipore Zoo'' - while some others will distribute leaflets to spread awareness on the alleged atrocities on the animals in the zoos.

UNI DPM PP AE DS1353