Bengal tiger dies of ‘kidney failure’ at zoo
New Delhi, Sept. 20: An eight-year-old Bengal tiger died in the Delhi zoo on Friday due to “kidney failure”, officials said. Rama died around 3 pm on Friday.
A blood report indicated very high phosphorous content and creatinine levels impacted the functioning of kidneys, an official in the Delhi zoo said. The tiger, which was brought from the Mysore zoo in 2014, had been unwell since July 27 and had not been eating enough. It had become very weak, another official said.
The zoo has seen deaths of 245 animals from April 2018 to June 2019. It has also lost the entire population of around 10 animal species, including chinkara, water monitor lizard, soft-shelled turtle and ostrich, in recent times. Recently the zoo’s last cape buffalo died allegedly after eating plastic.
The officials said the autopsy revealed the big cat died due to “multiple organ failure”.
Earlier, a blood report indicated very high phosphorous content and creatinine levels impacted the functioning of kidneys of tiger Rama. The average lifespan of a tiger is around 20 years in captivity.
The tiger attacked a zookeeper, Fateh Singh, on September 10 when he had gone to fill its water bowl.
A team of veterinary officers from Mathura and Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, had been treating the feline, the officials said.
The zoo authorities had also called Dr N.P. Singh from Chhatbir Zoo, Chandigarh, who is an expert in tiger treatment. Central Zoo Authority (CZA) member secretary S.P. Yadav had on Friday morning constituted a three-member committee to “inquire into the circumstances leading to the ill-health” of the Bengal tiger, according to the officials.
The panel has also been asked to review the hygiene status of the Delhi zoo, especially of animal enclosures, and submit its report in three days.
With the death of Rama, the zoo now has nine tigers — two Bengal tigers and seven white tigers.
The officials said the post-mortem was conducted in the premises of the zoo.