Leaves have been cancelled and the staff has been asked to be on call round-the-clock following the deaths of two tigers due to a bacterial infection recently
Leaves have been cancelled and the staff has been asked to be on call round-the-clock following the deaths of two tigers due to a bacterial infection recentlyAN emergency has been declared and all leaves have been cancelled for workers at the Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) following a series of deaths of wild animals recently.
The timing of the safari at the adjoining Bannerghatta National Park was also reduced yesterdayu00a0 shutting it down at 3 pm as opposed to the usual 4.30 pm.
These steps have been taken to prevent the spread of a bacterial infection which is believed to be behind the deaths of a tiger cub on Saturday and four-year-old tiger Divya last week.
Emergency has been declared to prevent the spread of the infection to other parts of the park.u00a0
Notices have been pasted requesting the public and the media to not enter the enclosures of the
ailing animals in the park."An emergency has been declared and everyone will have to put in time as well as their best efforts to save the animals at the park.
We have told the staff not to take leave and be available on call whenever required," said Millo Tago, executive director and conservator of forests (BBP).
While the Sunday crowd was disappointed with the safari being delayed for two hours and then being called off by 3 pm, park officials justified the decision and said that it was necessary to prevent the spread of the infection to the other parts of the park.
u00a0
With the safari vehicles having to pass through the area where some affected animals are being treated, the authorities felt the safari would disturb the animals as well as the doctors treating them.
'Critical'The Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals (IAH&VB), Hebbal, has confirmed that the tiger cub, which died on Saturday, had contracted an E.coli infection which led to gastroenteritis.
"The bacterial infection has been confirmed for all the affected animals but the reason for how it entered is not yet known.
u00a0
The doctors are working hard and medicines and injections are given to the infected animals every six hours to bring the infection under control," said Tago.
Assistant Director, Veterinary Sciences (BBP), Dr B C Chittiappa said, "The blood report of seven-year-old Arya is normal while Minchu has tested positive for the infection.
Arya has begun to eat and the other six animals which were infected are also showing improvement."
