Infection kills five tigers in Bangalore

Deepa Balakrishnan , CNN-IBN
Posted on Sep 21, 2010 at 09:12

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Bangalore: Five tigers have died and eight more have taken ill in the last 10 days in the city's Bannerghatta Biological Park. Forest officials are battling a severe bacterial infection and are now on an emergency damage control mission.

Eight tigers, including a white tiger, at the park are on antibiotics for the last couple of days after five big cats died at the park last week. Post-mortem analysis points to bacterial infection that all animals are suffering from.

M N Jayakumar, additional chief conservator of forests, said: “For about 11-12 days some animals are having diarrhea and vomiting. Seven to eight animals have been having this problem off and on.”

The park authorities are all the more worried after the infection killed a 3-year-old tiger last week. Another yet-to-be-named cub died on Saturday and two of their siblings are said to be in a critical condition now.

Officials at the biological park are worried that the spread of the infection could affect tourist inflow. That's why all the infected tigers have been taken away to a rescue centre and are being kept in isolation from Sunday. All water and meat that these tigers are being fed is also being tested.

Officials believe the infection could've spread from rotten meat. B K Singh, PCCF (Wildlife), Karnataka, said: “Probably during Ramzan, some bad meat must've been pushed here. We've not been able to find evidence yet, but we're trying our best to lay our hands on the exact reason.”

The Bannerghatta safari has 48 tigers and is a popular tourist getaway just on the fringes of Bangalore. Foul play has been ruled out, but safari officials remain on the alert for more animals falling prey to the infection.