Orissa lion dies during zoo shifting

A total 13 felines from Nandankanan are being shifted to various zoos in the state. Most of them would be accommodated in Visakhapatnam and Tirupati while two white tigers — both males — would be brought to the Nehru Zoological Park here on Monday.

Conservator of Forests (Wild Life) A V Joseph told The Indian Express

that the two tigers would be quarantined for at least a month before being allowed to mix with other white tigers. They would be kept under observation in the summer house (surplus animal cage) in the zoo. Blood and faecal screening would be done to know if they were suffering from any disease. Presently, there are four white tigers in the zoo here, he said.

The decision to shift the felines from the Orissa zoo was taken on the basis of the recommendations of an experts committee which conducted a probe into the death of 13 tigers at Nandankanan recently. The panel felt that the Nandankanan park has become congested for big cats and suggested that at least 12 tigers and 15 African lions be rehabilitated in zoos in other parts of the country.

According to an The Indian Express

report from Visakhapatnam, the zoo authorities there are worried about the high maintenance cost of the tigers. The cost of feeding a tiger works out to about Rs 400 per day and the fund-starved Visakhapatnam zoo may find it difficult to meet the expenditure.

Zoo curator Sanjay Kumar maintained that the lions and tigers which were already brought to the city were healthy. He declined to allow the The Indian Express reporter and photographer to even have a look at the new arrivals from Orissa.