Zoo to probe deaths of several animals

Chamikara Weerasinghe

Sports and Public Recreation Minister Gamini Lokuge has called for a report from officials at the National Zoological Gardens regarding the mysterious deaths of several animals in the zoo.

Among the dead animals were six Sri Lankan spotted deer, a lechwe (South African antelope), a jaguar and a cheetah.

Minister Lokuge said that he had called for a report on the deaths of animals on the February 7 and the 11. According to an official of the Zoological Gardens, the six deer had died due to stress faced by them as a result of being transported outside.

Referring to the fate of the antelope, the jaguar and the cheetah, the official said that the animals were suffering from various diseases and they died of natural causes.

He denied allegations levelled against the doctors at the Zoo as having caused deaths of the animals.

Meanwhile, the Director of the National Zoological Garden, Duminda Jayaratna said that the Jaguar had died of cancer. Three doctors operated on the animal after treating it for three years.

" The cheetah died due to immuno-deficiency and the lechwe as result of similar causes," he said. Asked to explain how the death befell the six deer, Jayaratna said they had died because of polythene content in their stomachs.

We have experienced deaths of deer in the zoo due to consumption of polythene on many occasions.

"They did not die outside the zoo, they died inside the zoo," he said.