ANIMAL WELFARE - Vets fight to save ill leopard.

[Guest guest]

ANIMAL WELFARE - Vets fight to save ill leopard.

 

09/03/2002

Bangkok Post

© 2002

 

Zoo director explains fate of `missing birds'

 

Cheewin Sattha

Veterinarians are trying to save the life of a seriously ill male leopard at

Chiang Mai zoo.

 

Worries remain that the 15-year-old animal, which had been in good health,

might die because it is refusing food.

 

Chatree Khuhatheparak, a vet, said the ailing leopard was suffering from

respiratory problems, and they were keeping an eye on him around the clock.

 

Chiang Mai zoo director Thanong Natheepitak said they would do more tests to

identify the illness. This would take about a day, and blood tests would

follow if the leopard's health did not improve. It was now getting medicine.

 

He stressed the illness was due to natural causes, and not the work of

malicious people.

 

The ailing leopard was donated by Dusit zoo eight years ago. Chiang Mai zoo

wanted to use the leopard for breeding, but this had not yet begun when it

fell ill.

 

In January, a male rhinoceros died of severe diarrhoea after developing an

infection.

 

Mr Thanong denied reports that many rare birds had disappeared.

 

He said the reports started while the zoo was repairing cages and installing

ventilation systems. During this time more than 60 rare birds were

transferred

to Dusit zoo.

 

All birds were returned to Chiang Mai zoo on Sunday on completion of the

repairs, he said.

 

Two weeks ago representatives from the Auditor-General's Office had

inspected

the zoo and sought explanations on several issues, including the

disappearance

of the birds, he said.

 

He said the zoo would soon have three new arrivals, with a hippo, a giraffe

and a seal being pregnant.

 

Measures had been taken to prevent a recurrence of the Aug 4 tragedy at

Dusit

zoo when a baby hippo was killed by adult hippos a day after birth.

 

Police are investigating whether there was foul play.

 

 

 

Folder Name: Asia Conservation Leopard

Relevance Score on Scale of 100: 98

 

____________________

 

To review or revise your folder, visit http://www.djinteractive.com or

contact Dow Jones Customer Service by e-mail at custom.news

or by phone at 800-369-7466. (Outside the U.S. and Canada, call 609-452-1511

or contact your local sales representative.)

____________________

 

Copyright © 2002 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.