Search the Internet           Tips

Slain tiger's mates in a state of shock, refuse food

"As tigers have powerful night vision, the ghastly scene of the killing and skinning of their mate has had an adverse impact on the animals," a zoo official said.

Sakhi was one of the five tigers caged in the safari park where it was killed and its skin peeled on October 4.

"The remaining tigers are disturbed and it is natural for them to be mum and aloof for some time. Our doctors are trying their best to bring them back to normal," he said.

Following suspension of the animal keeper after the killing incident, a different person is serving food to the tigers for the past four days.

The crestfallen big cats are on a virtual hunger strike, which the officials attribute to shock while lower rung staff attribute it to the change of animal keeper.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has ordered a thorough probe by senior Indian Administrative Service officer A V S Reddy into the gruesome killing of the female tiger on October four.

Naidu asked Reddy to submit a detailed report within four days, according to a release.

The year-old Sakhi was killed by poachers who slit its head and peeled off the skin. Police plan to interrogate at least ten zoo staffers, including four retired employees, in this connection.

After a preliminary investigation by zoo authorities, four staffers - the animal keeper, the park watchman, forester and zoo sergeant - who were on duty on October 4, have been placed under suspension.

The shocking incident, said to be first of its kind in the history of a zoo in the country, perturbed the zoo authorities as well as the state government, who had earlier announced a Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department inquiry into the incident.

Naidu, who had visited the zoo on Saturday, did not rule out the involvement of park employees in the 'macabre' act and assured stern action against the guilty.

Union Minister of State for Urban Development Bandaru Dattatreya and senior police officials also visited the park.

ALSO SEE
Andhra CID begins probe into tiger's killing in zoo

Tell us what you think of this report