Bhuvaneshwar, Nov. 12. (UNI) - Animals and birds at the
famous Nandankanan Zoological Park are faced with starvation following
the devastation wreaked by the super cyclone. The zoo, famous across the
world for housing the largest concentration of 24 white tigers and 50
lions, has been closed to visitors for three months as the authorities
feared that allowing the public in at this stage would aggravate the
already critical situation in the zoo. Big uprooted trees have damaged
some of the enclosures and the officials fear that if they are cleared
without taking adequate precaution, animals might escape causing panic.
Almost all the paths are blocked, hindering movement inside the zoo.
A detailed assessment of the loss of animal life has not
been taken up yet but preliminary reports said 13 mammals and 22 birds
perished in the cyclone, while 52 reptiles and 58 birds escaped. Zoo
officials claim that no predators escaped from the zoo but the staff
have been deployed to maintain a round-the-clock vigil to keep the
dangerous animals confined to their enclosure. Even 12 days after the
cyclone, the zoo is still without power and water. The authorities have
managed to arrange for two tankers to bring drinking water but the
supply is grossly inadequate. The water mains to the Zoo burst when the
trees fell, cutting supply to the tiger and lion safaris and other
enclosures. But the situation on the food front is worse. The
contractors, who had entered into an agreement with the authorities to
supply food, had backed out due to sky-rocketing prices and
nonavailability of food stuffs.
Go on to Hunger
Strike
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