CCTV surveillance for newborn care of tigers

BHUBANESWAR: Emerging wiser from the recent death of five tiger cubs, the state government has decided to monitor pregnancy and neonatal care of the big cats in Nandankanan here using CCTV camera.

Confirming the development, chief conservator of forests (wildlife) S S Srivastava said the third eye will keep a close watch on the animals during advanced pregnancy and early days of delivery. "In case we notice anything unusual, a committee of experts will review what possible steps can be taken to intervene in the best interest of the mammals," Srivastava told TOI.

Since mingling of humans during this crucial phase sometimes results in rejection of the cubs by the mother, they will be monitored through technology. There will be human intrusion in case of dire needs, he added.

A Royal Benegal Tiger, Sara, who is in advanced stage of pregnancy, will be monitored soon. "Sara is due to deliver in January. We would install the camera by this month-end," said Kamal Lochan Purohit, assistant director of the zoo.

Notably, five tiger cubs, died in the zoo on November 18 two days after they were born raising questions over quality of care in the zoo. Though zoo authorities attributed the deaths to "neglect by the first-time mother," an inquiry is still on into the deaths. "We are still probing if there was a lapse by the zoo authorities," CCF (wildlife) Srivastava said.

Zoo records reveal of the 11 first-time delivery in Nandankanan since 1966, only once two of four tiger cubs delivered in the same litter had survived in 2008. Otherwise, all of the same first litter cubs had died in 1966, 1979, 1981, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1997 and now in 2011 within the first two weeks of delivery.

In another unrelated development of improving animal care, the forests department has decided to send to Bhopal zoo a famed bear, Rani, which had hogged limelight for showing abnormal pet behaviour after being rescued from Keonjhar district some years ago. One Ramesh Munda, a tribal of Rutisila village in Keonjhar's Ghatagoan block had kept the bear "like a family member." But after animal rights activists pointed out the "illegality" of keeping the sloth bear, the forest department officials had brought it to Nandankanan in 2008. The protection of sloth bear is covered under the Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

"Rani needs treatment for which there is no facility in Odisha. That is why she will be sent to Bhopal," said Srivastava. Zoo sources said Rani's left eye is damaged "beyond recovery." Animal rights activists had sought Rani's treatment recently. "It was a wise decision to send Rani to Bhopal for treatment. There is no facility here," said Sanjib Kumar Das, member secretary of People for Animals

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