Team to suggest curative measures to contain protozoa-borne diseases
Jamshedpur, April 9: A team of wildlife health experts visited the Tata Steel Zoological Park on an invitation by the zoo authorities with the view to suggest curative measures for containing protozoan diseases reportedly spreading among the zoo animals.
The team members included Dr A B Srivastav, former Director, School of Wildlife Forensic & Health, Jabalpur Veterinary College, Dr M Navin Kumar, Deputy Director (retired) Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad and Dr Niranjan Sahoo, Head, Centre for Wildlife Health, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Bhubaneswar.
�The team members inspected all big cats at the zoo and found them in normal state of health. They also suggested stepping up measures to contain protozoan diseases. The team also visited other animal enclosures and found the upkeep satisfactory,� said a zoo spokesperson.
�Following the death of two tigers in Zoological Park on March 18, 2018 and March 25, 2018 respectively, we had taken certain initiatives with the view to contain future death of tigers. Blood and tissue samples were sent to Institute of Animal Health & Veterinary Biologicals, Kolkata and Centre for Wildlife Health, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Bhubaneswar. Tissue samples extracted from dead tigers were sent to Ranchi Veterinary College and the Centre for Wildlife in IVRI, Bareilly for histo-pathological examination. Report from Kolkata and Bhubaneswar labs have indicated negative result for Babesiosis. Histopathological reports are yet to be shared with Zoological Park Authorities by labs in Ranchi and Bareilly,� said the zoo spokesperson.
The zoo officials who accompanied the experts included Rishad Chinoy, Secretary, TSZS, Dr DN Diwedi, DAHO, East & West Singhbhum, Bipul Chakrabarty, Director, Dr Manik Palit, Deputy Director, Dr (Mrs) Seema Rani, Biologist cum Education Officer, and Sanjay Kumar Mahato, Curator.