The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Rescued camels recoup at Zoo

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 07, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Rescued camels recoup at Zoo

P. Oppili

The animals were found in an emaciated condition last month

IN BETTER HEALTH: The camels at the quarantine centre at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, on Thursday. — Photo: A. Muralitharan

CHENNAI: Two camels that were rescued last month in an emaciated condition, are recouping at the quarantine centre at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur. They were languishing under poor supervision by an individual.

Zoo authorities said when the animals were brought in, they were found to be very weak, as their owner had not fed them properly. But now they are recuperating slowly under a watchful eye and regular feeding by a zoo staff.

When the animals were brought in, their nostrils had already been pierced for nose rings (used to connect to a leash). But the owner had not taken adequate care while doing it. But the animals carried serious injuries in the nostril and the nose. The metal rings were cut open and removed. Later the wounds were cleaned and given medication, the Zoo authorities said.

At present both the male and the female camels were fed on wheat bran, cabbage, and 50 kg of grass every day. A zoo officer said the male weighed about 850 kgs, the female about 700 kgs, he said. The zoo vets took urine and faecal samples of the animals, which were tested at the zoo itself and the results showed no negative symptoms. Blood samples taken from the animals had been sent to an outside laboratory for analysis.

It may be recalled that the camels were rescued from an individual following a direction from the First Bench of the Madras High Court following a petition from an animal welfare activist.

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