The Hindu : National : Rhino dies of suspected anthrax

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Rhino dies of suspected anthrax

Special Correspondent

— PHOTO: RITU RAJ KONWAR

Veterinarians examine a one-horn Rhino which died at the Assam State zoo in Guwahati on Tuesday.

Guwahati: A 30-year-old male rhino of the Assam State Zoo here died of suspected anthrax on Tuesday morning.

The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Assam State Zoo, Narayan Mahanta, told The Hindu that night guards spotted the rhino collapsing, with blood oozing out of its nose and anus around 5.30 a.m.

He said preliminary tests of blood samples, analysed at the College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara, revealed that the rhino died of anthrax. However, a detailed culture test for confirmation will take at least 72 hours.

Mr. Mahanta said the rhino was very healthy and never had any sickness. So, the zoo authorities immediately sought expert opinion from the College of Veterinary Science. The rhino, rescued from the Pabitora wildlife sanctuary, was brought to the Zoo on August 23, 1980.

The carcass of the rhino was buried deep inside the zoo premises in accordance with the Central Zoo Authority ‘Guidelines for Disposing Carcass of Animals In Zoos.’

The guidelines say that the carcasses of animals that die of anthrax should be disposed of only by deep burying, without opening the body cavity. Anthrax is a lethal infectious disease caused by a spore-forming bacterium called ‘bacillus anthracis.’

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