African black rhino dies at zoo

The spate of deaths continues to dog the Mysore zoo as a female African black rhino, Priya, died here on Thursday. 

The post mortem report revealed acute pneumonic and hepatic lesions and generalised haemorrhagic lesions in the small and large intestines with inflammatory condition. Tentatively it is suspected for acute haemorrhagic septicemia. 

The post mortem samples have been collected and sent to Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Bangalore, for confirmatory report.

Sudden attack

The rhino was 16 years old, born on September 10, 1996 to Rajendra and Prema, which were also born in the Mysore zoo. The zoo authorities said the animal turned suddenly recumbent on Thursday morning. The rhino was treated after it was noticed to be in shock, but did not respond to the treatment and succumbed.

The detailed postmortem examination was conducted by team of zoo veterinarians, in the presence of Animal Husbandry Department Assistant Directors Dr S S M S Khadri and Dr Sanjeev Murthy.

The zoo witnessed the death of four African hunting cheetahs in the past one month.