Bhopal, Sep 22 (IANS) Stung by a series of deaths in the Indore zoo, including that of a white tiger cub, the civic agency has removed more than 25 employees, including the superintendent and the zoo in-charge, for negligence of duty, officials said Tuesday.
“While zoo in-charge R.B. Siddh has been suspended with five other staff members, superintendent B.L. Sharma and 10 others have been transferred. Besides, services of eight staff members have been terminated. Also, veterinary doctor Devendra Porwal has been issued a show-cause notice,” Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner C.B. Singh told IANS by phone Tuesday.

The administrative revamp of the city zoo Monday came on the orders of Indore Mayor Uma Shashi Sharma.

“Upset over the recent deaths of animals in the Indore zoo, the mayor ordered the removal of several zoo staff members, including the zoo in-charge and the superintendent, for utter negligence shown by them in discharging their duties,” Singh said.

“The action was taken after a sambar (deer) died Sunday, following an attack by a neelgai (blue bull), inside its enclosure,” Singh added.

“Rajesh Kothari has been appointed the new in-charge of the zoo while Ramesh Verma is the new superintendent. Requisite measures are being taken for improving facilities at the zoo. In order to give better and timely medical facilities to the animals, the hospital situated inside the zoo would be made functional once again,” Singh said.

“The action has been taken in the wake of alleged irregularities during the last couple of months, which saw several animals including a white tiger cub, die,” Singh said.

One of the three white tiger cubs at Indore zoo died at the Mhow Veterinary College (MVC) Thursday, apparently as a result of complications caused by a gastric infection around a fortnight ago.

Another cub is undergoing treatment. The zoo officials attributed the tiger cub’s death to “infectious feline anaemia” and “kidney infection”.

A deer and two male black bucks housed at the Indore zoo died last week as a result of internal injuries sustained in a clash, supposedly sparked either by territorial ambitions or a desire to win the attention of a female inmate.

“Earlier, more than 20 rabbits had died of infection during heavy rains in July. But, the biggest shock was the death of a white tiger female cub at the zoo last week,” chairman of zoo administration Anil Bindal said.