Etawah Safari lion gave up food 5 days before death

LUCKNOW: Adult lion, Tauqeer, which died in Etawah Lion Safari last week, had only 30% of its lungs functioning, its urine had traces of pus and kidney was severely infected with foreign particles. According to initial findings, the nine-year-old had not eaten since September 26 — the day it reached Etawah after a long journey from Junagarh zoo in Gujarat — till September 30.Was Tauqeer in trauma? Will any report analyse the mental state of the lion which travelled a long distance on a truck, packed in an enclosure, and was kept separately from others in an unfamiliar ambience?
“We are waiting for the postmortem report,” said VK Singh, director, Etawah Lion Safari. To be doubly sure of the lions’ health, the state government had got each of the eight big cats medically examined before bringing them to UP. After one of the females was found unfit, the government brought seven lions to Etawah.
Tauqeer did not show signs of illness and used to stroll in its enclosure, though for a shorter duration. Vets and safari administration had an idea that the lion was low on energy. After September 30 till October 4, it had frugal meals. On October 5 and 6, it hardly ate but had water. On October 6, it gave up water as well.
According to the safari administration, the lion’s behaviour was not normal. It got close to the source of water in its enclosure several times but did not drink. Each of its movement was watched through CCTV camera. In between, veterinary experts from Mathura and Bareilly visited the safari and examined Tauqeer. On October 10, the lion also developed fever.
Tauqeer, as it breathed its last around 1am on October 11, took a short stroll and then slumped to never get up again. Its medical reports showed no hints of Canine Distemper Virus, the contagion that claimed five lives at the safari between 2013 and 2015.
The level to which its condition had deteriorated showed it was not a new infection that the lion could have caught recently.
Meanwhile, turmeric spray has been done in the area where six remaining lions have been kept. The 21-day quarantine period has further been extended to 45 days.