Mysuru: MLA MK Somashekar confirmed on Sunday that the zoo authorities are taking good care of the animals including providing heater to some of them and there is no foul play in the deaths of any animals which was reported recently.
Mysuru zoo comes under KR constituency which is represented by Somashekar. On Sunday, he visited the zoo and interacted with zoo officials including K Kamala, Executive Director of Mysuru zoo and Mallige Veeresh, Chairperson of Zoo Authority of Karnataka to know reason behind the deaths of animals which was reported recently. It may be recalled that in the month of November, the death of six animals Zebra, Gaur, Hyena, King Cobra, Macaque and Indian rock python was reported. Kamala presented detail reports including postmortem along with photographs of all the six animals and mentioned that the animals’ death was natural and was due to ill-health and aging and there was no foul play at all.
Providing the details to mediapersons and also to MLA Somashekar and Mallige Veeresh, Kamala said, “Births and deaths in Mysuru zoo are common. Every year at an average 8 percent of deaths and nearly 40 to 50 percent of births take place in Mysuru zoo. From June to November this year, 25 animals have died while 45 animals have given birth. It was 17 deaths and 27 births during the last corresponding year. We are also maintaining monthly inventory where one can come across details of births of animals and birds. There are nearly 1,500 animals in Mysuru zoo”. She also mentioned that as part of 125 years celebration which will commence from March, Mysuru zoo may get four zebras from Ramat Gan zoo of Israel.
MLA Somashekhar after going through all the details and after inspecting the zoo including places where the animals reportedly died was happy with the upkeep of the animals. “The animals are being well looked after by the employees. For animals including snakes they have also installed heater which shows their concern towards animals. In a couple of days, I will convey a meeting with the employees including temporary employees and try to address the problems. It came to light that there are temporary employees who are working from more than 15 years. I will try to do my level best to address these problems,” he said. The MLA also called upon Kamala to give details of the births and deaths as soon as they take place.
