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The Asiatic lion news archive - 2002
DATELINE: December 28, 2002
PAU experts puzzled at lions’ deaths
Tribune News Service
Even as the post-mortem of two more lions, brought dead here from Chhatbir Zoo, yesterday was conducted by PAU veterinary experts, the scientists remained inconclusive on the exact cause of death.
The experts maintained in their opinion the lions were dying due to the dreaded canine distemper disease or because of the pitfalls of massive in-breeding. More than 15 lions have reportedly died at Chhatbir Zoo. PAU experts have visited the zoo a couple of times to ascertain the causes from the symptoms but said they were awaiting some samples of the other sick lions.
Expressing concern at the death of the lions veterinary pathologists of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) said there was an immediate need of taking precautionary measures otherwise the mortality rate would be higher.
While appreciating the efforts of the zoo officials, who were trying their best to contain the disease, Pathologists cautioned that at least 1000 lions had died swiftly in Africa of similar symptoms, identified later as canine distemper, in 1994.
The mysterious death of lions had become a cause of concern for the zoo officials as well as pathologists. The assistance of PAU scientists was taken by the zoo officials after their best efforts could not identify the disease.
Post-mortem remained inconclusive, said PAU sources. Samples of the nervous tissue would be sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly.
Speaking to TNS here today the experts warned that if the disease was not controlled it would assume the form of an epidemic and could even kill all lions.
The scientists said that around 1000 lions were stuck by an out-break of this disease on Serengeti plains in Africa in 1993-94.
The disease was caused by a virus, called canine distemper virus, that was transmitted through the dogs to the lions. The mode of infection in this case could be that the lions were let loose by the authorities in the zoo where they fed on dogs who are the carriers of the virus, the scientists said.
They added that the lions suffered from the staggered movement and tried to climb up on the wall of the enclosure but there was no rise in temperature.
The experts recommend that ring vaccination among the stray dogs within an area of 5 km from the zoo was the only way the disease could be prevented to attack the lions in the zoo.
Source: Ludhiana Tribune
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021229/ldh1.htm#3
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