New Delhi: With a number of abattoirs across Uttar Pradesh being subjected to raids and shutdowns, carnivorous animals at various zoos have been put on a forced fast.
All four slaughterhouses of Kanpur Municipal Corporation (KMC) have been closed, resulting in the suspension of meat supply for animals. The Kanpur Zoological Park has 70 carnivorous animals. The zoo animals included an adult tiger, a lion and a lioness.
As the zoo administration has run short of meat supply, the carnivores are being served with mostly chicken. Accustomed to buffalo meat, they are not doing well with this change in diet.
“Adult lions and tigers need up to 12 kgs of meat daily. Even smaller cats and jackals need about 2 kgs daily. The Kanpur zoo needs 150 kgs of meat every day, which is outsourced to a contractor who is unable to supply it due to lack of availability. The pregnant animals are also being given chicken but they are not interested,” a senior zoo official said on condition of anonymity.
In Allen Forest Zoo in Kanpur, officials have been serving white meat to the animal for the last five days. Most animals, however, have refused to touch the meat.
The Lucknow Zoo has eight lions, seven tigers, four white tigers, eight panthers, two hyenas, two wolfs, two jackal, and 12 wildcats, all of which are flesh-eaters.
