The Asiatic lion news archive - 2002

Stories relating to the Asiatic lion and updates on the captive breeding programme from 2002.

DATELINE: December 2, 2002
Canine distemper could have killed lions: experts

Kanchan Vasdev
Tribune News Service

Investigations into the death of some lions at Chatt Bir Zoo recently have narrowed down on the possibility of the spread of canine distemper disease or massive inbreeding among lions.

Expressing concern over the death of more than 10 lions and with as many as seven ill, veterinary pathologists of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) said there was an immediate need to take precautionary measures to check the increasing mortality rate.

A team of PAU scientists consisting of eminent veterinary pathologists that visited Chhatt Bir zoo on Saturday said at least 1,000 lions had died of similar disease in 1994 which was later identified as canine distemper.

The death of these lions, who had been keeping good health, has become a cause of concern for the zoo officials as well as veterinary pathologists.

A post-mortem examination of a lion was conducted at PAU today. Samples of the serum would be sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareily. More samples were likely to be sent to laboratory in Tanzania.

The scientists have, however, not confirmed the disease. They claim ed that the deaths could also be due to excessive inbreeding among the lions.

While talking to The Tribune,the experts said if the disease was not controlled, it would become an epidemic and could even consume all the lions.

The scientists said nearly 1,000 lions were killed due to this disease on Serengeti plains in Africa in 1994. They said the disease was caused by canine distemper virus which was transmitted into lions through dogs.

The infection in this case could be because the lions were often let loose in the zoo where they could fed themselves on dogs.

They added that the lions suffered from staggered movement and tried to climb upon the wall of the enclosure but there was no rise in temperature.

According to the experts, ring vaccination of stray dogs within an area of 5 km from the zoo was the only way to prevent the disease from spreading.

Source: Ludhiana Tribune
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021203/ldh1.htm#2