Team Herald
PANJIM: The ‘natural’ death of tigress ‘Sandhya’, the sole big cat in the State’s only zoo at Bondla, has raised alarm as the zoo has been without a round-the-clock veterinarian to treat the animals for the past six months.
Veterinary doctors for the zoo are appointed on annual contracts, which are either renewed or issued afresh. Highly placed sources said the contract of the in-house veterinarian in the zoo ended in December 2016 and was not renewed due to the State Assembly election code of conduct which was in force from January, this year. Even after the code of conduct was lifted in March, no applications were invited to fill the vacant post.
For routine medical examinations of animals or in cases of emergencies, government veterinary doctors from the hospital in Ponda or the Dharbandora and Usgao dispensaries are called depending on their availability. “There is no other option available before the zoo officials. The veterinary doctor contract ended soon after the death of Tiger Rana in December. Rana was the last patient he checked,” sources said.
Sources said that tigress Sandhya, who had stopped eating since Monday, was checked by a veterinary doctor from the government hospital. “She died of natural cause. She had gone old as she lived up to 14 years and four months, which is equivalent to 75 years of human life,” sources said.
With the monsoon season on, the animals are vulnerable to foot and moth diseases along with cold and fever and hence require daily examination by a veterinarian.
When Herald tried to contact Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Ajay Saxena, it was learnt that he is on long and may probably join the duty in July. He remained unavailable for comments.
