Veterinary hospital at Bir Talab zoo awaits doctors, staff as animals suffer

Ravi Chandel

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 5

The veterinary hospital situated on the premises of the Bir Talab zoo has been lying non-functional since its inception. The authorities have not made any efforts to get the veterinary hospital functional.

A total of 355 animals of 14 different species are living in the zoo.

An employee, who did not wish to be quoted, said, “The veterinary hospital is fully equipped. It has an isolation and quarantine ward for newly arrived as well as sick animals. But, it is unfortunate that no doctor and staff have been appointed here for animals.”

On a number of occasions, the authorities have sought the help of city-based veterinary doctors to treat animals.

Pawan Sridhar, range officer, admitted that due to the non-functional veterinary hospital, they were facing problems during the breeding of animals. He said lack of staff at the hospital was also proving to be a hindrance in the treatment of animals. Since April, three animals — black buck, hog deer and peacock — had died due to lack of proper treatment, he added.

Sridhar said most of the times, they had written to higher officials for the appointment of a veterinary doctor here, but to no avail.

When contacted, Harbhajan Singh, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), said, “I have recently joined here. I am not sure whether the veterinary hospital located on the premises of the zoo is functioning or not.”

The DFO said now, the matter had been brought to his notice he would immediately take an appropriate step to appoint staff at the hospital.