Serial animal deaths continue in Odisha’s Nandankanan zoo

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 24:

Serial death of animals in Odisha’s Nandankanan zoo continues. As of yesterday, the species of Caiman crocodile and four-horned antelopes have been completely wiped out of the famed zoo.

The deaths have been occurring due to various reasons. While Bajabajia and Sahana diseases have been the major reasons behind the death of many antelopes in the zoo, a territorial fight and subsequent injury led to the death of the Caiman crocodile.

As per sources in the zoo, a 12-year old cow Nilgai died in enclosure number 67 yesterday due to the disease. Overall, five four-horned antelopes and three Nilgais have succumbed to the diseases since August 15. All five four-horned antelopes living in enclosure no. 64 have died leading to the end of the species in the zoo.

While zoo authorities have tried to use bleaching powder and limestone powder to make disinfect the enclosures, it has clearly not had the desired effect. An attempt by zoo authorities to vaccinate the antelopes as a precautionary measure ended in disaster as the panicky animals starting running helter-skelter leading to the death of two Nilgais that died because of injuries after colliding with the wired fence.

As of now, the authorities have not been able to come up with an alternative solution.

In another incident, the only Caiman male crocodile of the zoo died yesterday after a territorial fight with a Siamese crocodile on Saturday leading to the end of the species in the zoo.

The incident happened when the 35-year old Caiman crocodile crossed over his 47-A enclosure and entered the 47-B enclosure of the a Siamese crocodile. The 35-year old Siamese attacked the Caiman and bit off about a foot from his tail.

While the veterinary and staff of the zoo somehow managed to separate them and treated the Caiman, it succumbed to its injuries yesterday.

It may be noted that the Caiman was brought from Chennai zoo on October 18, 1986.