The
Asian Age: Mumbai: Monday, 09 March 2015.
In a shocking
case of gross violation of rules at Veermata Jijabai Bhosle Udyan (VJBU) and
Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), chemical experiments were carried out on
tigers and deer, according to RTI details recently procured from Bombay
Veterinary College.
The research,
conducted for a dissertation by two students from the college in 2001, sought
to understand drug reactions on animals. While all tigers showed inverse
effects to the drug administration, two deer died during the experiments in the
zoo, said the RTI. The secretary of Plant and Animal Welfare Society, Mumbai,
Sunish Subramanian Kunju from the Bombay Veterinary College has procured the
RTI.
The submitted
thesis says that the tests were conducted on six tigers, three male and three
female, from the VJBU and SGNP to understand the functioning of xylaxine or
hydrochlorie anesthesia. Out of six, four were royal Bengal tigers and two were
white tigers.
The thesis
specifies very clearly that the ‘anesthetic drug is a potent adrenergic
agonist’ and ‘acts upon the central nervous system’ along with ‘variable effect
on the cardiovascular system.’ The drug, according to paper, has effects like
transient hypertension or longer period of hypotension and sensitises the heart
many times.
The tigers
were anesthetised using a blowgun and were kept on fast for the same during the
research without the presence of any anesthetic experts around. The thesis
clearly states that the side effects of these anesthetic drugs can lead to
death if prompt reversal of anesthesia is not carried out.
Side effects
of the anesthesia such as apnea, severe, respiratory distress, vomiting,
excessive salivation were noted during the experiment, which did not deter the
researchers or authorities from stopping the tests. These side effects were
observed in five out of 11 trials conducted on the tigers.
The animal
also showed severe cardiac and respiratory repression after administration of
xylazine and ketamine. The paper also suggests that all the animals that were
being experimented on were already ill and were being treated for dehydration,
anorexia and for wounds.
Burdizzo
experiments for castration were conducted on the deer in the zoo, and one of
them died while anesthesia was being administered to it. The other deer showed
severe respiratory distress after the onset of anesthesia. The thesis paper
also states that the postmortem conducted on both deer showed severe congestion
of lungs, kidney and lungs along extensive escape of blood in the brain. “After
we got to know about such experiments being carried out in zoo and national
park we sent an RTI query to them. Both the administrations have rejected our
request thrice saying no such experiments have been carried out as per their
records. This is very strange because we have got proof from the thesis
students have written in the veterinary college,” said Mr Kunju.
“The
Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals Act states clearly under Chapter 4 that
the experimentation against animals in zoos or national parks is illegal and
attracts legal punishment. These facts are highly horrifying and the authority
must take action as soon as they can,” said Advocate Zaman Ali, who fights for
environmental and animal protection issues in the high court.
Principal
chief conservator of forest K.P. Singh said he has directed investigations in
the matter.
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