BHUBANESWAR: The death of the wild buffalo, which was captured, tranquillised and successfully moved from Koraput to Nandankanan Zoo, has sparked off a controversy about translocation of animals under such conditions. The animal, the post-mortem report said, died of impaction which led to dehydration. Impaction is a condition under which the food taken by the animal remains undigested. Head of Veterinary Pathology of OUAT Dr SK Panda, who conducted the post-mortem, said the wild water buffalo had no disease condition at all. Given the long travel and hot conditions here, it might have come under tremendous stress since such animals need frequent wallowing because of their body structure and thick skin. A team from the Zoo had travelled to Kundura block of Koraput where it tranquillised the 800-kg mammal under very difficult conditions since no crane was available for loading the animal to the vehicle. Besides the whole process had attracted huge crowd. The wild water buffalo travelled in good health condition to the Zoo where it was supposed to be released in an enclosure but died. Questions have arisen about the kind of treatment it received at the Zoo given the stress it was under during translocation and general hot and humid weather conditions which necessitated greater care. “Since the animal had no disease condition, it should have been given better treatment looking at the symptoms of stress and dehydration,” said insiders. Experts suggest that doctors could have put the animal under sedatives and administered more fluids to keep it healthy. Nandankanan Zoological Park Deputy Director Siba Narayan Mohapatra said the stressed animal had fallen prey to dehydration. Food, it had taken during the last three days, had remained un-digested. The Zoo Hospital, where the buffalo was admitted, just has one veterinary assistant surgeon (VAS) and a leave reserve VAS. The senior veterinary officer’s post has been lying vacant since April.
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