Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Veterinarians to examine rescued lions, tigers

By P.Oppili

CHENNAI, March 25. A team of veterinarians will be brought to the Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre at Vandalur to examine the health conditions of lions and tigers recently rescued from a circus.

The Director of the Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP), Vandalur, P.C.Tyagi, said the veterinarians will be brought from the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University to examine the paws and eyes of the animals, besides their general health condition.

Even before taking possession of the lions and tigers from the circus, the zoo authorities had asked the circus owners to give details about the veterinary care provided to the carnivores, when they were under their custody. But, the circus owners had not given them any particulars about the veterinary care, but gave only the quantity of feed provided to each animal.

As the animals were not allowed to perform during the shows, following a ban imposed by the Union Government, the circus owners provided only a sub-standard feed to the animals, zoo authorities said. Because of this the animals were very weak. Some of them had problems in the eye and a good number of them were old, said Mr Tyagi.

Seven kilograms of beef every day and a chicken once in a week is being provided to each rescued animal and the health condition of the lions and tigers will slowly improve, the AAZP authorities hope.

Earlier, the animals were kept in small cramped cages and in some cages, they were keeping three to four animals. Lack of any exercise to the carnivores in the last four years had made them dull and they also developed sluggishness, said Mr Tyagi.

At present a total of 30 lions, nine tigers and a bear are housed at the Rehabilitation and Rescue Centre including the ones rescued from the circus recently.

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