Death clock ticking for big cats in zoos

Due to old age which causes multi-organ problems including heart failure, as many as 85 big cats kept at the three zoological parks in the state are on the verge of death, as per the records of the zoological parks.

“The old animals have been kept under observation, and are being given treatment as their health condition is deteriorating. Some of them are living beyond their average life span," said P Mallikarjuna Rao, director of AP zoological parks. 

Of 116 sick animals, 23 are Royal Bengal tigers,  62 Asiatic lions, five leopards, two elephants, and five vultures. Most of them were either rescued from circus centres or were captured after they strayed into human habitations, between 2000 and 2006, Rao said.  "They are undergoing treatment at animal rescue centres in Visakhapatnam zoo and Tirupati zoo".

“Every week about 25 animals, out of total 3,100 mammals, birds, and reptiles at the three zoological parks in the state, fall ill, and at least three of them die,” said P Srinivas, veterinary assistant surgeon at Hyderabad Nehru Zoological Park.