(IN) Tigers being stressed at Indore Zoo for public viewing

September 22, 2009

Bid to attract more tourists makes white tiger cubs ill

August 27th, 2009 - 6:15 pm ICT by IANS

Bhopal, Aug 27 (IANS) Three white tiger cubs have fallen ill at Madhya

Pradeshï¿½s Indore zoo allegedly due to the authoritiesï¿½ decision to

prematurely release them into an enclosure for public viewing in a bid to

attract more tourists, wildlife experts said.

ï¿½All the three cubs, born at the zoo in March, were suffering from diarrhoea

and dehydration for the past few days. The problem has been caused due to

the premature release of the cubs in the enclosure for the tourists,ï¿½ a zoo

employee told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

Wildlife experts say that the infection was caused as the release of the

cubs in the enclosure was quite premature.

Zoo superintendent B.L. Sharma, however, said that the health problem with

the cubs was due to constantly changing weather which is causing various

diseases like malaria and dengue even among human beings and animals are as

susceptible to it as humans.

ï¿½Cubs, like human kids, fall prey to these seasonal diseases more easily,ï¿½

he said adding that all efforts were being made to safeguard the health of

the white tiger cubs.

The cubsï¿½ illness was first noticed Saturday when they were found to be

discharging slightly green and runny stools. First local veterinarians and

then doctors from the Mhow Veterinary College were called in to treat them.

ï¿½Tests have shown that the cubs were suffering from bacterial

gastro-enteritis. Weï¿½ve administered saline drips and white blood cell (WBC)

counts have increased after the treatment for the past four days,ï¿½ said Dr

Hemant Mehta of Mhow Veterinary College who has been attending the animals

along with other veterinarians.

ï¿½While the condition of two of them is improving fast, it is difficult to

make a prediction for the third one right now,ï¿½ he said.

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