LIONS DYING IN CHANDIGARH ZOO AFTER FAILED EXPERIMENT

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http://news./s/nm/20060917/india_nm/india267970

 

LIONS DYING IN CHANDIGARH ZOO AFTER FAILED EXPERIMENT

Reuters, Palash Kumar, Sept. 17, 2006

 

 

Chandigarh, India () - Twenty-one lions are dying in a zoo in

Chandigarh after a cross-breeding experiment to boost the park's attractions

went disastrously wrong.

 

 

In the 1980s officials at the Chhatbir Zoo in Chandigarh, bred captive

Asiatic lions with a pair of African circus animals, resulting in a hybrid

species.

 

Within a few years it became obvious it had not worked.

 

The offspring found it hard to walk, let alone run, because their hind legs

were weak. And by the mid 1990s the big cats -- which live for up to 20

years in captivity -- showed symptoms of failing immune systems.

 

But it wasn't until 2000 that the breeding programme was ended, and the male

lions given vasectomies, by which time the zoo had 70 to 80 such lions.

 

Their number dwindled slowly, with disease killing some and some dying of

wounds inflicted by other lions.

 

Authorities say they are waiting for the population to " phase out " before

they can start breeding pure Asiatic lions.

 

" But the effort here is to help them die with dignity, " said Dharminder

Sharma, a senior zoo official. " We give them all the facilities to live a

happy life in their last years. Some of the old lions are even given

boneless meat. "

 

Last year the zoo opened a special enclosure, away from the main exhibit

area, where it keeps lions who have become too feeble to defend themselves.

 

It has been dubbed an " old age home " for lions.

 

Ailing Lakshmi and Lajwanti now live in these sheds, which have a small

caged courtyard.

 

Both are hybrid and are extremely weak. They can barely stand up or walk.

Their only activity is a small but painful walk to eat their meals. However,

if challenged, they can still muster a spine-chilling roar.

 

In August, Lakshmi stopped eating. Doctors at the zoo put her on a drip and

fed her glucose through water.

 

" Those were nervous times for us, " said Sharma.

 

" We tried very hard to keep her alive and eventually succeeded when she

slowly started to eat ... Even if they are meant to die, it doesn't meant we

kill them by not treating them, " he added.

 

Asiatic lions are found only in India and, at present, there are about 300

of them in the Gir national park in Gujarat.

 

In the mid-20th century, their numbers were less then 15 as they were

vigorously hunted by the Maharajas and princes for whom the majestic animal

was the most coveted game. The population recovered after a breeding

programme launched in the Gir sanctuary in the 1960s.

 

GULF NEWS DUBAI

GN: What is yr opinion of captive breeding as a measure to prevent the

extinction of wild animals? Do you feel India repeatedly fails to protect

its wild life due to poor implementation of legislation?

 

GN invites letters letter2editor

[Guest guest]

On 9/19/06, nilesh <nilesh wrote:

>

> http://news./s/nm/20060917/india_nm/india267970

>

> LIONS DYING IN CHANDIGARH ZOO AFTER FAILED EXPERIMENT

> Reuters, Palash Kumar, Sept. 17, 2006

>

>

> Chandigarh, India () - Twenty-one lions are dying in a zoo in

> Chandigarh after a cross-breeding experiment to boost the park's

> attractions

> went disastrously wrong.

> In the 1980s officials at the Chhatbir Zoo in Chandigarh, bred captive

> Asiatic lions with a pair of African circus animals, resulting in a hybrid

> species.(THIS IS AN UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIM. HYBRIDISATION DOES NOT

> NECESSARILY MEAN GENETIC DETERIORATION. SCIENTIFIC OPINION IS DIVIDED ON

> THIS. THERE ARE HEALTHY HYBRID LIONS IN INDIA AND THE US. THIS THEORY IS THE

> OFFICIAL ZOO THEORY, THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER STORY ALTOGETHER ON WHY THE

> LIONS BECAME DEGENERATE).

>

>

>

>

>

>