Veterinary hospital at Bir Talab zoo lying locked for over year

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 30

In the absence of veterinary doctors and assisting medical staff, the veterinary hospital at the Bir Talab zoo has been lying locked for over a year. If an animal gets injured or falls sick, the zoo authorities have to take help of veterinary hospitals situated in the city.

The veterinary hospital situated on the premises of the zoo has five rooms — two treatment rooms, a meeting hall, post-operative care room and an office room. The zoo houses approximately 400 animals of 14 different species.

An employee of the Forest Department, who did not wish to be named, said, “If the Wildlife and Forest Department has invested a huge amount to establish and maintain the facility, it must not ignore the medical needs of the animals kept in the zoo. On a number of occasions, animals get injured after they fight with each other. In such situation, they often writhe in acute pain as they bleed. It takes time to contact a vet doctor in the city who then covers a distance of approximately 10 km to reach the zoo.”

The veterinary hospital is fully equipped, including an isolation and quarantine ward for newly arrived as well as sick animals. But till now, no doctor and staff have been appointed here for animals.

Sources said due to the non-functional veterinary hospital, problems arise when animals get injured, fall sick and at the time of breeding.

Last year, three animals — one black buck, hog deer and a peacock — had died due to lack of proper treatment.

The zoo authorities had written to higher officials regarding the appointment of a veterinary doctor on a number of occasions, but to no avail.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Amritpal Singh Brar could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.