<p>The Delhi Zoo lost its 11-day-old hippopotamus in a fight between male and female hippoptamuses during the weekend.<br /><br />“The baby hippoptamus was killed in a fight between male and female hippopotamuses after the water level rose due to heavy rainfall on Saturday. It was only an 11-day-old baby hippopotamus. It is unfortunate the baby came in between the fight and was killed,” said Riaz Ahmed Khan, curator, Delhi Zoo.<br /><br />The zoo had four female hippopotamuses and three male hippopotamuses till now. With the recent addition, the number had gone up to eight. The recent death raises the question of the protection of animals on the premises of the Zoo.</p>.<p>The death of the baby hippopotamus comes weeks after the Delhi Zoo lost its eight-year-old giraffe. The giraffe, born and brought up in the Delhi Zoo, had suffered a heart attack and kidney failure in June. It was found dead in its enclosure.<br /><br />With the rain lashing the Capital for the past few days, a few animals were taken ill. “Some animals underwent regular check up, while a few others were taken ill due to seasonal change. It is necessary that precautions be taken during this season,” said another zoo official.<br /><br />The water level in the open enclosures rose. “Water pumps were used to drain out the excess water with the water levels rising in some enclosures. There are shelters inside where the animals moved. “Though the animals prefer to spend time in the open during daytime, some of the enclosures had to be evacuated,” said the official.<br /><br />The zoo is now also preparing to boost the monsoon arrangements with providing fresh chaff across all enclosures. This helps provide buffer to the animals during rains. In August, the zoo will start receiving the local migratory birds which will add to the attraction of visitors.<br /><br />Number of animals<br />The total number of animals and birds – both exotic and Indian origin – at Delhi Zoo has increased by just four in the past year as compared to the previous year’s rise of nearly 100.<br /><br />According to the annual inventory report of the National Zoological Park, Delhi, there were 1,355 animals and birds as on April 1, 2015 as against 1,351 last year. The number stood at 1,256 in 2013.<br /><br />At present, there are 1,355 animals of 31 exotic species and 40 Indian species at the Delhi zoo, Khan said.<br /><br />Old age, fighting among animals and fatal diseases are some of the reasons behind deaths of animals, he said. While there were 210 exotic animals in 2014, the zoo currently has just 213 such animals. There were 760 Indian origin animals last year, and the number has come down to 753 this time.<br /><br />Munia, the resident breeding birds found in Africa and South Asia, as well endangered species like black buck registered the highest mortality rate last financial year. “We lost 10 black bucks and nine Munia birds last year,” Khan said.</p>
<p>The Delhi Zoo lost its 11-day-old hippopotamus in a fight between male and female hippoptamuses during the weekend.<br /><br />“The baby hippoptamus was killed in a fight between male and female hippopotamuses after the water level rose due to heavy rainfall on Saturday. It was only an 11-day-old baby hippopotamus. It is unfortunate the baby came in between the fight and was killed,” said Riaz Ahmed Khan, curator, Delhi Zoo.<br /><br />The zoo had four female hippopotamuses and three male hippopotamuses till now. With the recent addition, the number had gone up to eight. The recent death raises the question of the protection of animals on the premises of the Zoo.</p>.<p>The death of the baby hippopotamus comes weeks after the Delhi Zoo lost its eight-year-old giraffe. The giraffe, born and brought up in the Delhi Zoo, had suffered a heart attack and kidney failure in June. It was found dead in its enclosure.<br /><br />With the rain lashing the Capital for the past few days, a few animals were taken ill. “Some animals underwent regular check up, while a few others were taken ill due to seasonal change. It is necessary that precautions be taken during this season,” said another zoo official.<br /><br />The water level in the open enclosures rose. “Water pumps were used to drain out the excess water with the water levels rising in some enclosures. There are shelters inside where the animals moved. “Though the animals prefer to spend time in the open during daytime, some of the enclosures had to be evacuated,” said the official.<br /><br />The zoo is now also preparing to boost the monsoon arrangements with providing fresh chaff across all enclosures. This helps provide buffer to the animals during rains. In August, the zoo will start receiving the local migratory birds which will add to the attraction of visitors.<br /><br />Number of animals<br />The total number of animals and birds – both exotic and Indian origin – at Delhi Zoo has increased by just four in the past year as compared to the previous year’s rise of nearly 100.<br /><br />According to the annual inventory report of the National Zoological Park, Delhi, there were 1,355 animals and birds as on April 1, 2015 as against 1,351 last year. The number stood at 1,256 in 2013.<br /><br />At present, there are 1,355 animals of 31 exotic species and 40 Indian species at the Delhi zoo, Khan said.<br /><br />Old age, fighting among animals and fatal diseases are some of the reasons behind deaths of animals, he said. While there were 210 exotic animals in 2014, the zoo currently has just 213 such animals. There were 760 Indian origin animals last year, and the number has come down to 753 this time.<br /><br />Munia, the resident breeding birds found in Africa and South Asia, as well endangered species like black buck registered the highest mortality rate last financial year. “We lost 10 black bucks and nine Munia birds last year,” Khan said.</p>
