Nat'l zoo suffers Tk 6.0m loss in one year for death of animals
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Monira Munni
The national zoo in the city's Mirpur area has suffered a total loss of Tk 6.0 million during last one year due to death of a number of animals for various diseases.
More than twenty rare animals died within a year, which include nine new animals procured from South Africa.
Last year, twenty seven rare animals including giraffe, zebra, oryx, wildebeest, impala, greater kudu, common elan, horse, donkey and kangaroo were brought to the zoo from South Africa, said zoo officials.
Among the new animals, the first victim was a greater kudu which died within 15 days of its arrival. Two kangaroos, one impala, two oryx, two greater kudus and one mountain zebra died in the next four months.
"It is absolutely normal to expect a few deaths when animals are introduced to a new environment," an official of the zoo said. According to him, deaths up to 30 per cent of a new lot of animals are normal.
Besides, some existing animals died of tuberculosis and gangrene, and also due to fighting among each other. Others died of old age complications, the official added.
Presently, there are about 2,161 animals of 157 species in the zoo. Among them 57 are mammals, including elephant, Royal Bengal tiger, lion, cheetah, rhinoceros, zebras, hippos, and different species of monkeys and chimpanzees.
Among them, more than 20 animals might die soon from old age complications. An ostrich, a rhinoceros, a chimpanzee and a hyena are already in critical condition, officials said.
Besides, a frequency of foot and mouth disease (FMD) among the cloven (divided) hoofed animals in the zoo has been found recently, raising further concern about their future. The most popular animal, the herd of giraffe, is suffering from FMD.
There was an outbreak of the disease in the zoo during this season, and several divided hoofed animals, especially the spotted deer, were suffering from it.
But the situation was under control now, the officials said, claiming that the zoo authority has taken necessary measures to stop further spread of the infection.
The national zoo in the city's Mirpur area has suffered a total loss of Tk 6.0 million during last one year due to death of a number of animals for various diseases.
More than twenty rare animals died within a year, which include nine new animals procured from South Africa.
Last year, twenty seven rare animals including giraffe, zebra, oryx, wildebeest, impala, greater kudu, common elan, horse, donkey and kangaroo were brought to the zoo from South Africa, said zoo officials.
Among the new animals, the first victim was a greater kudu which died within 15 days of its arrival. Two kangaroos, one impala, two oryx, two greater kudus and one mountain zebra died in the next four months.
"It is absolutely normal to expect a few deaths when animals are introduced to a new environment," an official of the zoo said. According to him, deaths up to 30 per cent of a new lot of animals are normal.
Besides, some existing animals died of tuberculosis and gangrene, and also due to fighting among each other. Others died of old age complications, the official added.
Presently, there are about 2,161 animals of 157 species in the zoo. Among them 57 are mammals, including elephant, Royal Bengal tiger, lion, cheetah, rhinoceros, zebras, hippos, and different species of monkeys and chimpanzees.
Among them, more than 20 animals might die soon from old age complications. An ostrich, a rhinoceros, a chimpanzee and a hyena are already in critical condition, officials said.
Besides, a frequency of foot and mouth disease (FMD) among the cloven (divided) hoofed animals in the zoo has been found recently, raising further concern about their future. The most popular animal, the herd of giraffe, is suffering from FMD.
There was an outbreak of the disease in the zoo during this season, and several divided hoofed animals, especially the spotted deer, were suffering from it.
But the situation was under control now, the officials said, claiming that the zoo authority has taken necessary measures to stop further spread of the infection.