NEW DELHI: A large number of animal deaths at the Delhi zoo over the last few years have been due to traumatic shock or shock, an RTI inquiry has revealed. A total of 37 animals died of “traumatic shock/shock” in 2019-20, another 78 in 2018-19 and 29 in 2017-18.
Animal activist Gauri Maulekhi, who filed the RTI queries on September 25, also stated that several cases of tuberculosis deaths were seen in the mortality list from 2017, indicating a possible lapse in the vaccination drives being conducted at the zoo.
In a letter to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), Maulekhi said urgent action is required to rectify the problems behind the scenes at the zoo.
“It was highlighted in the RTI replies that the maximum animal deaths in the said time frame had been due to ‘traumatic shock/shock’. Several animals have died due to ‘shock’ and very few due to old age, which raises many questions on the management, handling and treatment being provided to the animals of the NZP,” said the letter, a copy of which is with TOI.
“The functioning of the veterinary services inside the National Zoological Park, New Delhi (NZP) needs to be looked into urgently,” it added.
The letter also highlights the case of two White ibis deaths, which occurred at the hands of a predator. “It is further astonishing to note that two White ibis were discovered to be dead on the same day (May 9, 2019) in their enclosure, eaten by predators in the pond. Only their feathers were found. How could the Zoo authorities not have discovered the dying or dead birds before they were eaten by the predator? Why were there predators in the enclosure of the birds,” the letter asked.
A high-level committee in 2018 had found several violations at the zoo, including ‘suppression’ of a large number of deaths due to improper book-keeping, lack of records and ambiguity in maintaining these reports. Violations were also found in the post-mortem reports, along with the use of expired medicines on animals.
Delhi zoo director Ramesh Pandey was unavailable for a comment. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that all efforts were being made by the zoo to provide transparency, especially in relation to any animal that has fallen ill. “Regular updates are being provided now if any animal falls ill and if a death occurs, that too is conveyed immediately. The best possible care is being provided to each animal,” said the official.