Chhatbir zoo loses its Yuvraj

Our Correspondent 

Zirakpur, August 6 

Yuvraj, a lion aged 11, passed away at the Chhatbir zoo this morning with signs of convulsions and discharge from the mouth.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Punjab, and the Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Punjab, arrived at the zoo to take stock of the situation. A panel of veterinarians, including a team of experts from GADVASU and PAU, Ludhiana, was invited to carry out the postmortem and disposal as per rules.

As per the postmortem findings of the panel, the tentative cause of the death was acute respiratory distress. It will be correlated with reports of histopathological findings. Samples of visceral organs and abdominal contents have been sent for detailed investigations to the IVRI, Uttar Pradesh, and GADVASU, said zoo officials.  

Yuvraj was born in August 2008 and was acquired from the Junagarh zoo. The animal had a clinical history of nervous disorders in intervals for the past three years.

Despite special care provided by the veterinary wing based on the advice of experts from the IVRI and GADVASU, the animal used to get sick in intervals. In June this year, Yuvraj got critically ill and remained under special observation.

On a request of the zoo administration, a team of experts from the IVRI visited the zoo on July 18 to guide the veterinary wing regarding critical care. Yuvraj responded to the treatment and recovered in the last week of July. 

Zoo officials said Yuvraj showed epileptic seizures this morning. A veterinary team  examined the animal. However, after a brief period of laboured breathing, there was no movement. 

Yuvraj was declared dead at 7.30 am. The zookeeper and other staff were in shock over losing a precious member of the zoo.

The Chhatbir zoo is planning to get a pair of lions each from the Rajkot zoo and the Indore zoo.

 Was acquired from Junagarh zoo

Yuvraj was born in August 2008 and was acquired from the Junagarh zoo. The animal had a clinical history of nervous disorders in intervals for the past three years. In June this year, Yuvraj got critically ill and remained under special observation.