Colombo (PTI): An animal rights group has urged LTTE supremo Prabhakaran to spare animals during armed attacks, following a grenade explosion at a zoo near here.

Suspected LTTE militants had set-off a grenade near a birds' enclosure at Dehiwala zoo on February 3 in which seven people, including two children, were injured.

"In addition to injuring several human beings - which was no doubt its intent - the explosive device that was set off near the zoo's birds enclosure terrified many animals in the zoo," said Ingrid E. Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in a letter to the Tamil Tiger leader.

Newkirk said animals had become the victims in the cross-fire of wars all over the world leading to deaths of many of them intentionally or accidently.

"If you have the opportunity, will you please consider my request and appeal to all those who listen to you to leave animals out of the conflict?" Newkirk told Prabhakaran in the letter.

Meanwhile, the Sports and Public Recreation Minister Gamini Lokuge has called for a report from his officials regarding the mysterious deaths of some animals in the zoos in the country.

Among the dead animals were six Sri Lankan spotted deer, a lechwe (South African antelope), a jaguar and a cheetah., the state owned Daily News reported.