(IN): Wildlife suffers, authorities watch

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Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070709/asp/jharkhand/story_8033310.asp

 

 

Wildlife suffers, authorities watch

ARTI SAHULIYAR Beasts In Distress Monsoon mania: (From top) A

tiger suffers from blood fotozowa and has a wound below the eye,, a leopard

down with fever and a crocodile lies near murky water, a female emu with

fungal infection at Birsa Munda zoo in Ranchi. Pictures by Manik Bose

 

*Ranchi, July 8:* The annoyance on Salim's face is clearly visible as he

roams inside his cage.

 

The 20-year-old tiger misses the leisurely walks he enjoyed at the Birsa

Munda Zoological Park ever since algae has grown in the moat surrounding his

cage.

 

As the female Australian emu scratches her feathers the fungal infection

left behind by the rains is clearly visible. The only respite she got was

the two-day session at the zoo hospital. A few kilometres further lies the

wild cat that has been suffering from high fever and is still under

medication. He is likely to be transferred to his cage tomorrow. Not very

far is a hyena who has been suffering from skin problems due to excess

moisture.

 

The three days of torrential rain has clearly left its impact on animals and

birds at the zoo and the empty cages of five tigers and a leopard still

serve as a stark reminder of the deaths in July, last year, due to babeosis.

 

 

The only official arrangement to combat the rains was visible in the cages

of a lion and a leopard where an insect repellent was installed. With a

total of 29 cages and a population of 500 animals, the condition at the zoo

is not very pleasant. And the monsoon work is yet to be completed.

 

In the area where two pelicans were kept, water had not been changed for

many days. The leopard was seen sitting outside his cage on patches of

green, infected with algae. But zoo officials seemed ignorant of this

condition.

 

Authorities maintain that they change the water everyday, but the scene in

the cages of Arjun, Sundari and Saraswati, the lions, had a different story

to tell. With insects hovering around the water, it was evident that it had

not been altered for many days.

 

The condition was worse in the crocodile cage was worse. The water, which

had not been altered for months altogether, had turned green. " It is

difficult to supply water in the zoo, as there are only five borings. On an

average 10,000 to 20,000 litres of water is required but due to the heavy

rains it has turned green, " said a forest ranger, on condition of anonymity.

 

 

However, the veterinarian at the Birsa Munda Zoo, Dinesh Kumar, said they

are ready to battle the monsoon. " The sheds on the tops of cages were

removed so that it does not become a breeding ground for insects. Besides,

sand is also being laid down in the cages to prevent water logging, " Kumar

said.

 

To avoid incidents like last year Kumar gives an anti ectoparasite injection

to the tiger once in three months. " We are taking complete care of

sanitation to maintain hygiene inside the cage, " he said.

 

P.K. Verma, the director of zoo, said animals are safe. " There is no chance

of water-logging. Besides, even if animals feel cold due to heavy showers

there is an arrangement of a heater, " Verma added.

 

The disparity between words and action seems evident.