Zoo, park animals dying from diseases

SM Rezaul Karim, minister for fisheries and livestock, yesterday said the foreign animals in Bangladeshi safari parks and zoos are dying from infectious diseases.

He said this while talking to the journalists at the foundation laying ceremony of the Institute of Livestock Science and Technology in Sylhet.

About the recent animal deaths at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park in Gazipur, he said, "Bangladesh's climate and environment are unfamiliar to the foreign animals, which is why they are being infected by diseases.

"The zebras died of a disease. Lab reports showed that the other animals also died from similar ailments."

The minister added, "We are looking into whether there was any negligence on our part… Different ministries are working together to make sure no wildlife dies, and the environment and climate are not destroyed."

Rangpur Zoo's only tigress dies

On Friday night, the lone tigress of Rangpur Zoo died from old age, said zoo officials.

Ambar Ali Talukdar, deputy curator of Rangpur Zoo, confirmed the death yesterday afternoon.

The tigress, named Sawan, was brought to the zoo in 2010.

"Sawan was suffering from old-age complications and died in her cage around 10:00pm. She was buried inside the zoo after an autopsy, which showed she wasn't suffering from any disease."

The average life span of a tiger is around 15-16 years. Sawan died at the age of 18 years and seven months, he added.