Bhubaneswar: The Animal Welfare Trust Ekamra (AWTE) has filed an FIR against the authorities of Nandankanan Zoo in Bhubaneswar in relation to the death of the lioness that had died due to a snakebite.
Reportedly, the founder of AWTE, Purabi Patra, has filed a complaint alleging dereliction of duty against by the zoo authorities.
“Unavailibility of adequate amount of anti-snake venom (ASV) stock resulted in the delay in the treatment of the lioness. As per the Government of India and WHO protocol, 10 numbers of vials of ASV needs to be administered within 1 hour of snakebite. But according to Zoo authorities only three vials had been given (that happened either due to lack of stock of ASV or lack of knowledge of zoo veterinarians). In either case, sheer negligence killed the lioness,” Patra further stated in her FIR.
According to the central zoo authority’s guidelines, 10 vials were supposed to be administered as the snakebite medicine, but only three vials were given. Patra has requested to conduct the lioness’ post-mortem in an unbiased place.
The lioness had been kept in enclosure Number 30 (B) of the zoo where a poisonous snake was found. A total of three vials of anti-snake venom (ASV) were administered to the lioness. However, the African lioness succumbed.
It is pertinent to mention that the African Lioness Ganga was aged about 15 years and had come from Israel in 2015.
Kalinga AI