Cobra dies without mate at Solapur zoo

[Guest guest]

There are unconfirmed reports the monk had introduced Spectacled Cobra genes

into the pure genetic makeup of this King Cobra specimen so rather than risk

the sacrilege of impurity the zoo decided to sacrifice him. Blood samples

and DNA samples have been sent to different institutes around the world to

ascertain if genetic impurity was the cause of debilitation and death.

Suggestions are also coming in that this snake might have been a new

subspecies : Ophiophagus hannah solapurensis. The zoo director has further

been requested to do genetic fingerprinting of all zoo visitors to prevent

any replication of such travesty within the zoo premises among human guests.

 

On Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 11:40 AM, NileshBhanage <NileshBhanagewrote:

 

>

>

> Thank you Solapur Zoo for once again proving that Zoo's are rarely

> meant to be a Best Educator! Zoos such action speaks louder than words!

>

> Regards,

> Nilesh Bhanage

> Committee to monitor animal welfare laws in Maharashtra

> (Appointed by Hon. the Bombay High Court)

>

>

> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Cobra-dies-without-mate-a

> t-Solapur-zoo/articleshow/5665235.cms

>

> Cobra dies without mate at Solapur zoo

>

> Prafulla Marpakwar, TNN, Mar 10, 2010, 01.41am IST

> *

> * Article

> <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5665235.cms

> <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5665235.cms> >

> *

> MUMBAI: A 16-foot long King Cobra, which was gifted 'freedom' by the

> Bombay high court had four days before Valentine's Day last month, has

> died at the Mahatma Gandhi Zoo in Solapur. On Wednesday, when the PIL

> filed by nature lover Gururaj Pore comes up for hearing, there will be a

> shocking revelation before the high court-the cobra died allegedly owing

> to dereliction of duty on part of the zoo administration.

>

> " It is among the longest venomous snakes in the world and has a

> reputation of killing a human being with a single bite. Adequate care

> was not taken. It was kept in a small glass enclosure in pitiable

> conditions, " Pore told TOI on Tuesday.

>

> A month ago, the Bombay high court had asked the zoo administration to

> quickly find a companion for the Cobra or release it in the wild. " Both

> the zoo administration and the NGO, which had taken up the

> responsibility of protecting the Cobra, have failed in their duty. As a

> result, the rare Cobra died in captivity. There has been a blatant

> violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, " Pore added.

>

> The Cobra was rescued from a monk's custody in April 2007 by forest

> officials. Instead of releasing it in the wild, they handed it over to

> the zoo administration. " Solapur's weather was not suitable for it.

> Owing to the tiny enclosure, the cobra could sustain spinal injuries, "

> he added.

>

> Pore alleged that proper food was not given to the Cobra. " The zoo

> administration made lakhs of rupees from its Cobra exhibition in the

> last two years. But it seems that there was dereliction of duty at all

> levels, resulting in its death, " he said.

>

> " The initial post-mortem report says it was not a natural death, as

> several holes were found on its body. We are now awaiting the final

> report. The HC should fix the responsibility for dereliction of duty. "