The death of a hippo at Byculla Zoo yesterday proves the zoo is incapable of handling 'exotic' animals, say activists; want to stall the Rs 430-crore-revamp plan
The death of a hippo at Byculla Zoo yesterday proves the zoo is incapable of handling 'exotic' animals, say activists; want to stall the Rs 430-crore-revamp planu00a0
Polar bears and giraffes seem a distant dream, when zoo authorities can't even care for a hippo. This is the
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Death trap: A hippopotamus in the same enclosure where Shakti, a five-year-old Hippo, died yesterday. Pic/Shadab Khan |
common sentiment amongst animal rights activists in the city who are up in arms against the Byculla zoo authorities and the BMC after the death of five-year-old hippo Shakti yesterday.
Dr Sanjay Tripathi, veterinary officer at the zoo, said the hippo hadn't eaten the night before and was founds dead yesterday. "We had given him antibiotics, but they did not help. We can ascertain the cause of the death only after the post mortem," he said.
However, sources said the hippo is believed to have passed away due to the extreme heat in the city.
While zoo officials are trying to hush up the whole issue, activists are planning to protest against the BMC's Rs-430-crore zoo revamp plan.
Anuradha Sawhney, chief functionary, PeTA said, "Shakti was too young to die. The BMC isn't giving details, as it is scared of receiving flak from the people because of its careless attitude towards animals.
"We will ask the Central Zoo Authority to stop the BMC from housing any new animals at the zoo. We have been working with the zoo authorities since 2002 and haven't seen any change in the condition of animals."
Animal rights activist Bittu Sahgal said, "The death of the hippo only adds to the list ofu00a0u00a0 tragedies at the Jijamata Udyan. Mumbaikars have short memories, but they must be reminded that a large number of blackbucks died at the zoo in 2006. At that time, the High Court had sacked some officials and even issued some directives, but complacency appears to have crept in again."
According to him, the zoo has the finest specimens of trees in Asia and should beu00a0u00a0 protected as a Botanical Park and Nature Interpretation Centre.
