NAGPUR NEWS:Deer deaths in zoo raises eyebrows

NAGPUR: Death of three deer in the Maharajbagh Zoo in the last 20 days has once again exposed 'bad' conditions prevailing



there.

According to morning walkers, they saw carcass of two deer - one on January 5 morning and another on June 6. They said both the deer were adult males. A similar death was reported 15 days ago when they had seen carcass of a female deer.

According to sources, the two deer are suspected to have died due to hemorrhagic septicemia, a highly fatal disease caused by bacteria due to multiple reasons. It infects the animals through water, feed and even air. In susceptible animals, the symptoms progress rapidly from dullness and fever to death within hours. Recovery is rare. The symptoms may have flared up due to the current cold wave.

Repeated attempts to contact Prof Ram Gawande, public relations officer (PRO) of agriculture college, run by Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), proved futile. Dr SS Bawaskar, zoo in-charge, refused to comment saying he was not authorised to speak to the media. Dr AG Bhandarkar, head of pathology department, Nagpur Veterinary College, confirmed to have conducted post-mortem of one deer.

The frequent deaths of animals in the zoo calls for urgent attention of the authorities. The zoo has been recognised till 2011 subject to many conditions. While renewing the recognition to the zoo on January 30, 2009, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) had specifically mentioned that uncontrolled growth of spotted deer is a cause of concern and immediate steps are needed to control their population. The zoo was told to maintain a separate hard-sheet for spotted deer. This was one of the conditions among host of others.

However, even after a year, many conditions prescribed by the CZA still remain to be fulfilled, thanks to the lack of concern of the authorities towards wildlife. The new associate dean, Dr Vandan Mohod, has taken some steps by keeping a close watch on the functioning of the zoo but that has hardly anything to do with the animal welfare.

Former principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) for wildlife B Majumdar and the CZA had asked the zoo to release excess 40 deer in Navegaon National Park, Chaprala and Tipeshwar wildlife sanctuaries. The zoo had 55 deer of which three have died. Yet, no steps have been taken to release the excess deer. Last year, the zoo had even spent Rs 65,000 on making wooden boxes to release the deer.

INSET BOX
CZA prescription not followed

* Preparing a collection plan for animals to be housed and displayed with due regard to land, water and power availability.

* The enclosure for macaques is not designed to meet biological requirements.

*Sloth bear enclosure needs to be extended.

* All enclosures need to have bamboo plantations and wooden logs for environmental enrichment with immediate effect.

* Appropriate screening between enclosures and stimulate conditions in leopard, python and bear enclosures. Plantation of appropriate tree and shrub species providing shelter to the animals.

* Medical check-up of staff responsible for upkeep of animals.

* Keep only such numbers of animals and species for which appropriate housing facility exists.

* Provide signages containing biological information about the animal housed and stand-off barrier.

* Revised long-term master plan of the zoo not submitted.