A sick zebra also died at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park in Sreepur, Gazipur. Two zebras died in the safari park on Saturday (January 29).
The sick zebra died shortly after 6pm on Saturday. Another zebra died the same morning while ill. However, it has not been determined whether the dead zebras were male or female. Eleven zebras have died in the park from January 2 to January 29.
Zahidul Kabir, project director of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, said, “Two zebras fell ill on Saturday morning. Two zebras were treated immediately. One died in the morning and the other in the evening. Work is underway to determine the cause of death. “
He added that zebra deaths in the park began on January 2. As of Monday (January 24), nine zebras had died. A 6-member expert medical board was formed on the death of the zebra. Later on January 25, a meeting of the medical board was called with them in the park. Earlier, Professor Dr. Md Abu Hadi Nur Ali Khan of the Faculty of Pathology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Professor Dr. Md Rafiqul Alam of the Department of Surgery and Obstetrics, Professor Dr. Kazi Rafiqul Islam of the Department of Pharmacology, former Chief Veterinary Officer of Dhaka Central Veterinary Hospital and former curator of Dhaka Zoo Hatem Sajjad Md Zulkarnain, a veterinary officer at the safari park, attended the meeting. In the afternoon briefing after the meeting, the expert committee formed gave the cause of death of the zebra and some directional suggestions.
At the end of the park observation, they suggested that the soil in the zebra’s habitat should be “turned upside down” and sprayed with bleaching powder to kill the germs. The water in the reservoir of the park needs to be changed. The zebras need to be vaccinated, mature grass should be provided as zebra food, and dried food should be served free of fungus. Biosecurity system should be set up in these animal enclosures, additional security personnel should be provided. The fallow land inside the park has to produce grass and provide food. CCTV cameras should be installed all over Bestney including night vision cameras.
At the end of the meeting in the afternoon, Zahidul Kabir and Md Shahidullah, a member of the expert team, gave seven types of suggestions for the cause of death of these zebras and for conducting further activities in the park.
They said that five zebras died due to bacterial infestation of Streptococcus, E. coli, Clostridium, Salmonella and Pasturela by eating extra raw grass and four zebras died fighting among themselves.