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Tiger Gautam’s death raises alarm

BHOPAL: Following the death of 5-year-old tiger Gautam due to bebesia disease at Van Vihar National Park in the Capital here this past week, the State wildlife authorities have started testing blood samples of all carnivores in the Park to find out whether other animals were also affected by the same disease.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (wildlife) P.B. Gangopadhyaya gave this information at a Press conference here on Saturday. The death of Gautam due to bebesia is a cause for serious concern, he said, adding that seven tigers had died in Ranchi zoo by the same disease last year.

The State Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, V.R. Khare, told media persons that foreign experts, including Dr. Joshua F. Dein of National Wildlife Health Center, Wisconsin USA, were being consulted and experts from the Wildlife Institute of India have been asked to visit Van Vihar to assess the gravity of the problem.

The State Forest Minister has also ordered an inquiry into Gautam’s death. The Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Suhas Kumar and A.B. Shrivastava of Jabalpur Veterinary College would join investigations and submit a report within a week.

Eight tigers have died at Van Vihar in the last four-year period.

Five of these tigers died of old age while three others died in unnatural circumstances.

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Tiger Gautam’s death raises alarm

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