BAREILLY: In an ongoing research titled 'Great Asian One Horned Rhinoceros dying in Indian Zoos' by a wildlife expert has revealed that 110 rhinos have died in Indian zoos during the period from 1965 to 2015. The research stated that out of these 110 rhinos, only 34 were born in zoos and the remaining were born in forest and later kept in captivity. BM Arora who is former principal scientist and wildlife in-charge of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) and currently president of the Association of Indian Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians said that the cause of death in certain cases need to be investigated but common reasons behind mortality of rhinos are diseases, including rabies and tumorous growth.
Out of the total 110 deaths of rhinos reported during the period, 63 were male and 45 were female while the gender of two rhinos could not be ascertained. In India, there are 15 zoos recognized by Zoo Authority of India which housed rhinos during the said period. "From the year 1965 to 2015, the highest mortality was reported in 1982 as seven rhinos had died in zoos across the country. Five deaths were reported in 1999 and 2007 each while two to four rhinos died in remaining years," said Arora.
The maximum survival age of rhinos in zoo was 47 years. However, the highest mortality was reported in the age group of 11 to 30 years as of the total, 38.90 per cent of rhinos died in this age group. Besides, 34.26 per cent of total deaths reported in Indian zoos were infant to juvenile (0 to 3 years of age). "It is difficult to determine the exact age of the rhinos, especially in the case of adults, which were rescued from wild and shifted to zoos," said Arora.
The causes of death are diseases, natural and in most of the cases, the reason of death is still need to be investigated. As per the research, eight rhinos died due to tuberculosis and seven because of tumorous growth. Four deaths each were reported due to salmonellosis and anthrax diseases each. Besides, few rhinos died as they were suffering from pneumonia, enteritis, hepatitis, reproductive problems including still birth and dystocia and systemic conditions like gastro intestine impaction in which animal end up eating foreign material other than routine food like plastic bag or sand. "Only one rhino died of paratuberculosis in Guwahati zoo in 2005," said Arora. He added, "Most of the cases are undiagnosed and they remain to be investigated."
The Association of Indian Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians has written to Inspector General of forest last month for providing assistance in analysis of health problems of rhinos in free ranging and maintained in captivity. "The data on health problems in rhinos can be compiled only after the assistance of Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoEF) and hence, I have sought their assistance. If data on health problems of rhinos in zoos and wild is compiled, it will help MoEF to make health related policies for species conservation plan. Indian Rhinos Vision 2020 is already going on for the conservation of animal," said Arora who will submit his research to MoEF.
