The zoo officials did not rule out the possibility of deaths of more blackbucks and are worried about the safety of the two rhinos too as dirty water has entered their moat.
Two rhinos in Delhi Zoo face life threat from the sewage water that has taken a toll on the blackbucks with as many as 32 of them dying due to consumption of dirty sludge that had flowed back into their enclosures from a drain pipe opening in the Yamuna.
The zoo officials did not rule out the possibility of deaths of more blackbucks and are worried about the safety of the two rhinos too as dirty water has entered their moat, consumption of which can be harmful to them.
Fearing risk to their lives, environment minister Jairam Ramesh has asked wildlife expert Kartick Satyanarayan from NGO SOS Wildlife to work on a plan to ensure that the rhinos do not go close to moats and consume the sewage water.
"It is must that they (rhinos) are kept away from the dirty water.
"Meanwhile, I have also asked the zoo authorities to prepare a revised plan to repair the sewer drain to ensure that the dirty water does not flow back into the premises," Ramesh told PTI after his visit to the zoo today to review the situation there following the deaths of blackbucks.
As a short-term plan, solar-powered fencing may be put up around the moat to keep the rhinos at bay.
"We will also create an alternate wallow pool in their enclosures so that they don't feel the need to go to the moat," Kartick said.
Earlier, at a meeting, amid blame-game between zoo authorities and civic agencies such as Delhi Jal Board over the death of the blackbucks, the Union minister asked the officials to prepare a revised plan for construction of drain pipe by Monday to address the problem.
The recent heavy rains have taken a toll on over 32 animals who have died due to consumption of sewage water which had overflown into their enclosures from the sewer pipe. The post-mortem of the dead animals has revealed intestinal
infection and consequent hemorrhage.
Zoo director AK Agnihotri said, "As many as 32 blackbucks have died and now lime spraying is being carried out in the affected areas while rest of the animals are being treated." The zoo is now left with less than 100 blackbucks.
Promising to meet the fund requirements, the environment ministry has also asked the agencies concerned to tackle the
issue of malfunctioning of the sewage system situated in and
outside the park which was causing overflow of sewer water
mixed with the rainwater.
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