Cheetahs fall ill at Sakkar Baug Zoo in Junagadh, removed from public view
Express News Service Posted online: Tuesday , Feb 02, 2010 at 0537 hrs
The animals have been put under critical care for the second time since their arrival from Singapore in March 2009. Zoo officials said on Monday that three of the four cheetahs — a male and two females— have taken ill, and that the condition of one of them is critical.
Zoo Superintendent Y J Rana said the animals have developed infection in the respiratory system and swelling in the liver. Besides local veterinarians, an expert from Anand has been called in. They are also in constant touch with experts from the Singapore Zoo.
Sources, meanwhile, said that two cheetahs have responded well to the treatment and have reportedly started taking food, while one has not taken food for the last two days.
The state government had brought the four felines from Singapore in exchange of three Asiatic lions. To take proper care of the animals, zoo officials were imparted training in Africa and Singapore.
