A young tigress at Kolkata's Alipore Zoo died on Wednesday, with a suspected bacterial infection being the primary cause. However, zoo authorities and veterinarians are investigating the possibility of other underlying medical complications that may have contributed to the fatality.
Investigation Awaits Viscera Report
Officials from the Bengal Zoo Authority stated that while a bacterial infection is the leading theory, they are not ruling out other factors. P Kamalkant, the member secretary of the Bengal Zoo Authority, confirmed they are awaiting the viscera analysis report, expected within a week. "The primary reason is bacterial infection. But as the tigress was young and such infections are curable, we can't rule out underlying conditions," Kamalkant explained.
Haemoprotozoa: A Potential Hidden Threat
Veterinarians pointed out that haemoprotozoa, a blood parasite, could be fatal for big cats in captivity if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Former Alipore Zoo veterinarian D N Banerjee noted that both haemoprotozoa and bacterial infections are treatable when detected early. He revealed that the zoo has a routine preventive healthcare programme for its large felines. "There is a routine programme, especially for big cats, against this infection and preventive shots are administered every six months," Banerjee said, adding that the disease is common in bovine and feline species.
Questions on Protocol and Prevention
The incident has raised questions about the medical protocols followed. One unnamed expert questioned, "Why wasn't a medical board formed?" Meanwhile, NVK Ashraf, chief veterinary officer at Wildlife Trust of India, emphasized that timely detection is the best prevention for such infections. He clarified that this type of infection is not directly contagious. "It needs a medium or vector to spread," Ashraf added, providing crucial context about the disease's transmission.
Zoo officials initially believed the young tigress would recover from the infection as it was under treatment. The tragic outcome has now prompted a deeper review, with the final viscera report holding the key to understanding the complete sequence of events that led to the animal's death.
