Foul play suspected in jumbo death
Deccan Herald, India
25 Oct. 2004
Mysore zoo authorities smell a larger racket in the death of animals,
including seven-year-old elephant Komala, which was to be airlifted
to the Yerewan zoo in Armenia, DHNS reports from Mysore.
The authorities suspect foul play in Komala’s death as preliminary
investigations indicate that the death could have been due to
poisoning. “More precisely, the death is similar to the death of
elephants Ganesha and Roopa and a male lion-tailed macaque,” according
to zoo Director Manoj Kumar. Soon after the death of two elephants and
the macaque, the zoo management took action to prevent such tragedies.
At the same time the police began inquiry into the killings and even
interrogated several employees. Six zoo employees had been suspended.
The deaths have surfaced within one month after the serial tragedies
struck. Who are killing the animals? What is their motive? These are
the questions that are still unanswered. Komala’s death has puzzled
the zoo authorities as she was kept under tight vigil to be flown to
Armenia as a “special gift” to the president of Armenia. The elephant
was all set to fly to the Yerewan zoo to pair with her partner,
a male elephant from Moscow.
Rumour has it that rivalry among the zoo employees regarding who
should accompany Komala could be the cause of poisoning of the animal.
Meanwhile, M N Shivakumar, Principal Secretary, Department of Forests,
Ecology and Environment held an emergency meeting with Zoo Authority
of Karnataka member-Secretary Suresh and zoo Director Manoj Kumar,
following instructions from Chief Minister N Dharam Singh.
Mr Suresh told Deccan Herald that the principal secretary collected
details about Komala’s death and previous deaths. He also collected
details about the preventive measures taken by the zoo in the aftermath
of the deaths.
“We feel that Komala could have been poisoned based on the symptoms. It
will be confirmed only after investigations of the viscera and blood
samples,” he said.