Bengal tiger dies mysteriously in Nagpur zoo

While the zoo officials are citing acute ulcer as the cause of Chandu’s death, veterinary experts debunk the claim. According to one such expert who spoke to The Indian Express on the condition of anonymity, ulcers cannot cause sudden death. A tiger may go on to survive up to six months before succumbing, he said. Sudden death can be caused by something like tripanosomiasis, a disease which proved to be the nemesis of tigers at the Nandankanan Zoo recently, he added. Interestingly, Chandu was born to a pair of tigers who were brought here from Nandankanan in 1988.

According to this expert, the major symptom of a bleeding ulcer is black feaces. That requires doctors to check the haemoglobin and then give the animal necessary treatment. A sickness called pin-point haemorrhage can be suddenly caused due to intake of a highly toxic substance, he added.

But according to Dr Dhoot, the tiger showed no symptoms of ulcer at any time before December 31. In fact, he never had any health complaints during the last ten years, he added.

On December 31, Chandu was given two litres of milk. But the tiger was found to be suffering from fever and did not consume the milk. Two experts, Dr Sarode and Dr Rode, from the local Veterinary College were summoned the next day, but nothing extraordinary was found. From January 2 to 4, Chandu was all right and took his normal diet, Dr Dhoot said. On 5th, he was again indisposed. Once again, Dr Sarode was called. The doctor suspected that Chandu could be suffering from ulcer. Hence, he was put on saline. But the animal died early in the morning on January 6.