A post-mortem conducted by experts from Mumbai Veterinary College revealed pyogranulomatous pneumonia as the preliminary cause of death. Further reports from the Wildlife Research and Training Centre in Gorewada are awaited, officials said
Royal Bengal Tiger Shakti was brought to Byculla Zoo in 2020. PIC/Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo
The Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Garden and Zoo in Mumbai's Byculla has clarified that Shakti, a nine-and-a-half-year-old Royal Bengal tiger, died of pneumonia-induced respiratory failure and not due to a bone stuck in his airway, as claimed by some media reports.
Shakti, brought to the zoo in 2020 along with tigress Karishma under an exchange programme, had stopped eating on November 15 and was under veterinary care.
Though he consumed a small amount of chicken the next day, he later experienced retching. On November 17, while being shifted for a health examination, he suffered sudden convulsions and died at 12.15 pm.
A post-mortem conducted by experts from Mumbai Veterinary College revealed pyogranulomatous pneumonia as the preliminary cause of death. Further reports from the Wildlife Research and Training Centre in Gorewada are awaited, officials said.
The zoo administration stated that reports about a bone blocking Shakti’s windpipe were incorrect and were published without verification. The tiger’s death has been reported to the Central Zoo Authority and Maharashtra Zoo Authority as per protocol, and last rites were carried out accordingly.
Tigers Jay (3) and Karishma (11.5) remain on public display at the Byculla Zoo.
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