The Star, Malaysia : 540 zoo animals died in last two years

Tuesday November 11, 2003

Report: 540 zoo animals died in last two years

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 540 animals, or about 20% of the nearly 3,000 animal population at the National Zoo died over a two-year period due to a lack of professional veterinarian care.

These figures were contained in the zoo's annual reports for 2001 and 2002.

In 2001, a total of 254 autopsies were performed, which included 44% birds, 15% hoof stock (four-legged animals such as zebras, cows and buffaloes) and felines (5%).

A zoologist closely associated with the zoo, who declined to be named, said the deaths were due to a lack of qualified veterinarians in the zoo.

“Many young veterinarians were employed and they came with their degrees but had limited knowledge in wildlife. Although there were four veterinarians, there was little communication between them and the zoologists.

“The National Zoo is up-to-date with medicines and facilities, there is no doubt about it. But it is because of the poor management that many animals died at that time,” the zoologist said.

The 2001 report states “there was a slow down in the number of faecal examinations submitted from the reptiles due to lack of manpower in the Reptile House.”

When the zoo's veterinary services head was away in the United States to attend an education programme in 2001, three veterinarians visited the zoo every Saturday to attend to the medical problems, said the report.

In the same year, autopsies were also performed on reptiles (18%), primates (4%) and on rodents and other species (4%).

The zoo hospital also received 117 injured wild animals and donated animals. In 2002 the hospital performed 286 autopsies, said the report.

“Of these, 40% were birds, hoof stock (20%), felines (8%), reptiles (20%), primates (8%) and rodents and other species (4%),” it noted.

According to the 2002 report, the hospital also received 56 injured animals and some donated ones.

The hospital continues to play an active role in training undergraduates from Tunku Abdul Rahman College, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia.

“We also assist veterinary students with their final year projects carried out within the zoo,” said the report.

Under the Eighth Malaysia Plan, the Government pumped in RM8.15mil to improve the 40-year-old zoo. – Bernama