Sixth big cat dies in Birsa zoo in a month

Ranchi, Aug 10 (UNI) With the death of a tigress at the Birsa Zoological Park here, so far six big cats have died in the past one month, worrying the vet experts who remain clueless about the recurring deaths of the animals.

With Jyotsna's (tigress) death yesterday, panic-stricken park authorities held a series of emergency meetings headed by the PCCF and Chief wildlife warden A K Singh that decided to provide medication cover to all the remaining 13 big cats, including two tigers.

They also sent an SOS to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izzatnagar and Central Zoo Authority of India seeking guidance in the matter.

Five big cats, including a rare white tiger, died last month which the authorities have attributed to babesiosis.

The last victim had been ill, showing signs of convulsion for over a month.

Yesterday, her condition deteriorated coupled with severe convulsion.

All efforts made by the experts led by Director Deepak Singh went in vain.

The tigress was brought to Jharkhand from Nandan Kanan Zoo in Orissa.

The park authorities were now doubly worried about the fact that there was no sign of babesiosis in the latest victim as was the case with the earlier deceased.

The officials were now trying to ascertain the exact cause of the tigress' death.

They said even the post mortem showed that vital organs like kidney and liver among others were normal in Jyotsna's case.

The red blood corpuscles count was also reportedly found to be normal.

The authorities claimed that the medication administered on Jyotsna was as per IVRI experts' advice.

UNI PRS KK AB BST1408