Death stalks the tiger

The wildlife safari conducted by BBP is immensely popular with tourists for it provides the young and old alike an opportunity to watch the big cats up close and personal in an almost natural environment. But wildlife lovers and experts are increasingly questioning the wisdom of exploiting these beautiful predators for the entertainment of the public. 

“Eleven lions and nine tigers have died in Bannerghatta Biological Park in the last 15 months,” the Karnataka forest minister CH Vijayshankar informed the state Assembly recently. In the month of September last year, as many as five wild cats died in the park's captive area in quick succession. 

A three-month-old tiger cub succumbed to a severe bout of diarrhoea despite treatment. Two lions, a tiger and a three-and-a-half-year-old tigress died before the month came to an end. Some of these casualties (two lions and a tiger) were caused by old age – the big cats had crossed the normal life span of 12-16 years. 

But in several of these cases, the deaths occurred due to suspected infection caused by the stale poultry that was fed to the wild cats. After the postmortem, officials revealed that the fatal infection was caused primarily by the deadly salmonella bacteria in the putrid chicken that these animals were fed once a week. 

Faced with what was almost an epidemic. the authorities tried more than 40 different antibiotics to stem the infection but to no avail. The deadly salmonella and e-coli bacteria are difficult to contain and none of the antibiotics currently available was of any help.

Veterinary experts attached to the Southern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory affiliated to the Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University admitted as much. They were the ones who conducted the postmortem and post-death analysis of samples obtained from the three-and-a-half-year-old tigress Divya. They revealed that none of the antibiotics that were used to curb the salmonella and e-coli bacteria yielded the desired results.  

The postmortem report explains that the scientists at the laboratory, who examined samples obtained from Divya’s liver, used close to 30 different antibiotics for in-vitro sensitivity testing. However, all of them failed to curb the multiplication of the bacteria in the animal’s body. This inadequacy of the available medication is the main reason for the death of wild cats on a massive scale. 

“We are using Ethinum as antibiotic now. This new antibiotic has been successful in bringing the infection under check. Today, only a single tiger, Guru, suffers from a kidney problem. All the other wild animals in our charge are in good health,” said M. Nanjunda Swamy, chairman of the Zoo Authority of Karnataka. 

Altogether 46 tigers, 76 lions and 22 leopards are left in the park today. Of them 42 tigers and 22 lions are in the safari area and two tigers and 54 lions are in the rescue centre. Two other tigers are in the Born Free Foundation. 

The foundation was set up in 2002 as a sanctuary for big cats rescued from circuses. Following a Supreme Court ruling and on the personal initiative of then Union environment minister Maneka Gandhi, all wild animals used in circuses were released in 2001. 

These released animals were rehabilitated in seven centres run by the Zoo Authority of India. The problem in BBP was that the tiger reserve officials did not know the medical history of these newly acquired wild cats. Therefore, the ailing felines did not receive the required treatment. The officials provided medical attention to only the seriously ill tigers and lions but left those with symptoms of mild infection to fend for themselves. As a result, the infection spread very fast. 

“Now we have divided the animals into two separate categories – one of cats that have been rescued and the other of those animals that are from the forest area itself. The park officials are keeping a close watch on the tigers that are ailing,” said Swamy. 

When the wild cats began to die in a heap, the media blasted the park officials for the unclean environment prevailing in the reserve. The officials quickly swung into action and sanitised the environment. The death of tigers stopped for a while. “Vehicles which transport raw meat to the park were sanitised and similar measures taken to sterilise the cages,” the minister told the Assembly. 

Vijayshankar also announced that specialty hospitals for animals were being planned in the park premises. “Prompt action was taken against officials who were held responsible for the death of some of the wild cats,” he added. The issue isn't, however, only about dying tigers. Do we really want these big cats to be treated like domestic animals for public recreation? Forest officials say, “In BBP, animals can move around freely in an area of 50-60 acres. Wild cats in captivity live longer than animals in the forest.” 

Rescued animals need regular check-ups. But the park is unable to appoint a permanent veterinary doctor. The Zoo Authority is permitted to post up to three doctors. But no one is willing to join as  jobs outside are more favourable. In its latest budget, the state government has allocated Rs 2 crore for BBP. Asked what action had taken for the well-being of the big cats, principal chief conservator of forests B K Singh declined comment. “The minister has already made a statement. So we have nothing to share from our side regarding this issue. We do not want to talk about any measures taken or not taken concerning this,” he thundered.