No need to panic over zoo deaths: Experts

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  The expert committee that was constituted to examine the recent deaths of animals in the Thiruvananthapuram zoo has concluded that the deaths can only be considered as isolated incidents in the respective species and hence not of concern.The expert committee report has been submitted to Minister for Zoos and Museums P K Jayalakshmi as well as Culture Secretary K Venu. Jayalakshmi also visited the zoo on Wednesday soon after receiving the report of the expert committee.The committee came to the conclusion that there is no immediate cause of worry after a detailed study of the post-mortem reports, revisiting into the previous deaths, examining the feed store and feed ingredients and also after consultations with the zoo director, zoo superintendent and the zoo keepers.However, the committee has urged the zoo officials to implement the recommendations on the health-related aspects. The most important of the recommendations is the establishment of an in-house laboratory to carry out routine medical procedures and the purchase of rapid antigen and antibody detection kits for detecting infectious diseases without any time delay.Regular testing of water samples, periodic analysis of feed samples and screening for ectoparasites and endoparasites have been recommended as steps towards prevention of infections. The committee also said that a species-wise protocol has to be developed for regular deworming, periodic disease screening and post-mortem. The isolation and quarantine of newly procured or purchased animals have also been recommended before introducing them into a herd or flock as the case may be.The members of the expert committee that probed into the deaths of animals in the zoo included Dr H Viswanathan, chief disease investigation officer of the Department of Animal Husbandry (AHD); Dr Shajahan, deputy director, AHD; Dr Sunil Kumar, Forest Veterinary Officer; Dr E K Easwaran, disease investigation officer, Chief Disease Investigation Office (CDIO); Dr Swapna Susan Abraham, disease investigation officer, CDIO; Dr Meera Unwin Antony, veterinary surgeon (microbiology), CDIO; Dr Nandakumar S, veterinary surgeon (pathology), CDIO; Dr Jacob Alexander, veterinary surgeon, AHD; and Zoo superintendent Jayan.To improve the manpower of the zoo, one more veterinarian, a laboratory technician and more curators should be posted, suggested the expert committee. They have also advised training of animal handlers in aspects related to animal behaviour, common diseases, disease prevention and husbandry practices.For better management, the committee has recommended that the daily health status is to be monitored twice a day by the keepers and supervised by the livestock inspector. The monthly meetings of the staff and quarterly reviews by personnel from CDIO and subject experts are to be conducted without fail.Review and revision of the nutrition/ diet of the animals and birds at periodic intervals, recording of food refusal, maintenance of birth and death registers, treatment register, vaccination register, tranquillization register and laboratory investigation register have also been suggested.