<p>In the wake of the death of three tigers - Divya, Minchu and a tiger cub due to bacterial infection, BBP wants to test the meat supplied before being fed to the animals. <br /><br />“These kits are used for testing milk supplied to the soldiers at the border. We do not know if the kit will work on meat; if it works then we will procure them," said M N Jayakumar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. BBP at present houses 82 lions and 48 tigers at rescue centre and at the safari.<br /><br />Jayakumar said the BBP was also in talks with certain technologists in the City to create a huge microwave oven that can disinfect microbes in 500 kg meat at a time. <br /><br />A similar microwave oven is used in a Canadian Zoo where 1,000 kg meat is microwaved for a short time before feeding it to the animals.<br /><br />Eighteen tigers fell ill after eating contaminated chicken, with three of them succumbing to infection. After the deaths, BBP issued a show cause notice to the contractor Fayaz Pasha for supplying contaminated beef/chicken and suspended his contract. However, no FIR was lodged. <br /><br />“Dr Basavarajappa, the vet, has been terminated from his services as BBP feels that he was less than responsive in his action," said B K Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden.<br /><br />Preventive measures<br /><br />Further preventive measures taken by the BBP include- building two holding houses with six cubicle cells as per the rules of the Forest department; shifting the bone pit for disposing meat waste two km away from the animal enclosures; building a footpath containing potassium permanganate (PPM) at the threshold so that people's feet are disinfected before they enter the animal cells; collecting meat samples everyday and keeping them in a freezer and dipping meat in PPM before it is fed to the animals.<br /><br />More doctors<br /><br />The Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) sent a proposal to raise the Zoo Veterinarian Cadre from 6 to 12 doctors. An exclusive Zoo Veterinarian Cadre will also be recruited by 2012 as the post-graduation subject on Wildlife Medicine was introduced this year at the Veterinary College where five students have enrolled. <br /><br />ZAK will also start a one-year PG Diploma Courses in Zoo Management in collaboration with the University of Mysore.</p>
<p>In the wake of the death of three tigers - Divya, Minchu and a tiger cub due to bacterial infection, BBP wants to test the meat supplied before being fed to the animals. <br /><br />“These kits are used for testing milk supplied to the soldiers at the border. We do not know if the kit will work on meat; if it works then we will procure them," said M N Jayakumar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. BBP at present houses 82 lions and 48 tigers at rescue centre and at the safari.<br /><br />Jayakumar said the BBP was also in talks with certain technologists in the City to create a huge microwave oven that can disinfect microbes in 500 kg meat at a time. <br /><br />A similar microwave oven is used in a Canadian Zoo where 1,000 kg meat is microwaved for a short time before feeding it to the animals.<br /><br />Eighteen tigers fell ill after eating contaminated chicken, with three of them succumbing to infection. After the deaths, BBP issued a show cause notice to the contractor Fayaz Pasha for supplying contaminated beef/chicken and suspended his contract. However, no FIR was lodged. <br /><br />“Dr Basavarajappa, the vet, has been terminated from his services as BBP feels that he was less than responsive in his action," said B K Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden.<br /><br />Preventive measures<br /><br />Further preventive measures taken by the BBP include- building two holding houses with six cubicle cells as per the rules of the Forest department; shifting the bone pit for disposing meat waste two km away from the animal enclosures; building a footpath containing potassium permanganate (PPM) at the threshold so that people's feet are disinfected before they enter the animal cells; collecting meat samples everyday and keeping them in a freezer and dipping meat in PPM before it is fed to the animals.<br /><br />More doctors<br /><br />The Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) sent a proposal to raise the Zoo Veterinarian Cadre from 6 to 12 doctors. An exclusive Zoo Veterinarian Cadre will also be recruited by 2012 as the post-graduation subject on Wildlife Medicine was introduced this year at the Veterinary College where five students have enrolled. <br /><br />ZAK will also start a one-year PG Diploma Courses in Zoo Management in collaboration with the University of Mysore.</p>
