No doc for animals at Bir Talab zoo as hospital lying locked

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 16

The veterinary hospital at Bir Talab zoo has been locked for over a year. As a result, whenever any animals and birds require treatment, the zoo authorities have to take help of other veterinary hospitals situated in the city.

This hospital houses five spacious rooms, including an office, a meeting hall and a post-operative care room.

Sources said the availability of a doctor at the hospital becomes more important during the summer season when chances of animals getting sick are comparatively higher. The veterinary hospital is fully equipped with an isolation and quarantine ward for newly arrived as well as sick animals. But till now, no doctor and staff have been appointed here for animals.

The sources added that the zoo houses approximately 400 animals of 14 different species and problems arise when animals get injured, fall sick and at the time of breeding. Around two years ago, three animals — a black buck, hog deer and a peacock — had died due to lack of proper treatment.

If the Wildlife and Forest Department has invested a huge amount to establish and maintain the facility, it must not ignore the medical needs of the animals kept in the zoo. On a number of occasions, animals get injured after they fight with each other. In such situation, they often writhe in pain as they bleed. It takes time to contact a vet doctor in the city who then covers a distance of approximately 10 km to reach the zoo.

The zoo authorities had written to higher officials regarding the appointment of a veterinary doctor on a number of occasions, but to no avail.

Divisional Forest Officer Amritpal Singh Brar said, “We keep putting forward our demand for a permanent doctor and assisting staff at the vet hospital in the zoo to the state Forest Department authorities, but nothing has been done in this regard. For now whenever there is any requirement, we ask doctors from animal husbandry hospital from city to visit the zoo to treat animals and birds.”