Concerns Rise Over Pregnant Giraffe's Death in Ranchi Zoo: Violations of Animal Transport Regulations Highlighted

Kolkata/Ranchi: The death of a six-year-old pregnant giraffe, ‘Mishti’, on Sept 4, has raised concerns about the violation of the ‘Zoos in India 2014 Legislation, Policy, Guidelines and Strategy’ laid down by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), as the post-mortem report indicated that the animal was pregnant.Notably, the dead northern giraffe, a threatened species, was translocated from the Alipore zoo in West Bengal to the Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park in Ranchi on Aug 7, following an animal exchange programme. It was also the first giraffe at the Ranchi zoo after the authorities started the process to bring one around nine years ago. Against the giraffe, gharial and Himalayan black bear pairs were given to the Alipore zoo.

The CZA rules said only animals in good health should be transported. “Pregnant or female animals which have recently given birth should be avoided for transport,” it said.However, vets argued that barring some pathological tests to know hormonal changes and monitoring CCTV footage for mating activities inside enclosures, it is difficult to know if an animal like a giraffe is pregnant.Asked if it was possible to know if a big animal like a giraffe was pregnant at the time of transfer, Padma Shri veterinarian Kushal Konwar Sarma said, “Since the urine test doesn’t give reliable reports on pregnancy of animals such as a giraffe, only USG can scientifically confirm it.

But the facility is not available at all zoos. CCTVs inside enclosures can suggest if the giraffe had mated. In that case, zoos should monitor the footage properly and wait before transferring the female,” he added.A senior official at the Ranchi College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, where the post-mortem was done, said the giraffe was three to four months pregnant. “There was also an injury in its back,” he said.Ranchi zoo vet Om Prakash Sahu said they received the preliminary post-mortem report on Monday and said, “Mishti was in its first trimester and was under medication since Aug 15 for a leg injury. The report said it died due to encephalitis, septicemia and cardiorespiratory failure.” Zoo director Jabber Singh said, “So far, I don’t know about the pregnancy. Initial reports suggested that Mishti had a fall in its enclosure and received injuries on its neck.

” He also said the zoo was in the process of acquiring one more giraffe, a male, from Kolkata. “Bringing two of them together involves logistical challenges,” he said.NVK Ashraf, the chief veterinary officer and vice-president of the Wildlife Trust of India, said it was possible that Mishti acquired some kind of infection after reaching the new environment.Former vet at Alipore zoo, D N Banerjee, said considering the giraffe’s gestation period of 15 months, the first trimester would mean it was pregnant for around four to five months.Meanwhile, activists have also questioned how a herd/social animal like giraffe was transported alone. “How these considerations were overruled in the transaction between Alipore Zoo and Ranchi Zoo involving this unfortunate pregnant giraffe is a matter of grave concern for animal welfare. The Alipore zoo, West Bengal State Zoo Authority, Ranchi zoo and the Central Zoo Authority have to do some serious soul searching on the death of this animal,” said Shubhobroto Ghosh of World Animal Protection in India.On the injuries, a wildlife expert said the giraffe enclosure at Ranchi had saal vegetation, whereas giraffes should be kept in an open space. “It might have got injuries negotiating the saal vegetation,” he said.Calls and messages to Alipore zoo director Tripti Sah for her comments on Mishti’s translocation and death went unanswered.