Wildlife Health Experts visits Tata Steel Zoological Park

The authorities from Tata Steel Zoological Park invited a team of Wildlife Health Experts on April 8, 2018. They visited the Zoo premises to suggest curative measures for containing protozoan diseases. The team comprised of the following members:

1. Dr.A.B.Srivastav, Former Director, School of Wildlife Forensic & Health, Jabalpur Veterinary College
2. Dr.M.Navin Kumar, Deputy Director (Retired) Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad
3. Dr.Niranjan Sahoo, Head Center for Wildlife Health, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Bhubaneswar.

The team inspected all large cats in the Zoological Park and found them in normal state of health. They also suggested stepping up measures to contain protozoan diseases.

The team also visited other animal enclosures and found the upkeep satisfactory.

Following officers accompanied the team during their visit:

• Mr. Rishad Chinoy, Secretary, TSZS
• Dr.D.N.Diwedi, DAHO, East & West Singhbhum
• Dr.Manik Palit, Deputy Director ,Zoo
• Dr.(Mrs.) Seema Rani, Biologist cum Education Officer, Zoo
• Mr.Sanjay Kumar Mahato, Curator, Zoo
• Mr.Bipul Chakrabarty, Director, Zoo

Following the death of two tigers in Zoological Park on March 18, 2018 and March 25, 2018 respectively, the zoo authorities had initiated following action with respect to containing future death of tigers:

1. By sending blood and tissue samples to Institute of Animal Health & Veterinary Biologicals, Kolkata and Centre for Wildlife Health, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Bhubaneswar.
2. Tissue samples extracted from dead tigers for histopathological examination at Ranchi Veterinary College and Centre for Wildlife in IVRI, Bareilly.

Report from Kolkata and Bhubaneswar labs have indicated negative result for Babesia sps. Histopathological reports are yet to be shared with Zoological Park Authorities by labs in Ranchi and Bareilly.