A Kharghar-based wildlife trust has complained to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) about veterinary students carrying out a research on two Royal Bengal tigers and 12 deer from the Veermata Jijabai Bhonsle Udyan (VJBU) Zoo that involved the animals undergoing 'clinical trials' to see how they react to anaesthesia.
The two studies were conducted in 2001 and 2003 (copies are with dna). The study on tigers was done by the present deputy superintendent of the Byculla Zoo, Dr Sanjay Tripathi. The other study was done by Kamal Kumar. Kumar's dissertation mentions that two of the deer who were administered anaesthesia died.
Who has the trust complained to?
The matter was recently reported to the CZA, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, the principal chief conservator of forests, the forest ministry and the National Tiger Conservation Authority by the MyVets Charitable Trust and Research Centre, which is run by wildlife veterinarians Dr Madhurita Gupta and Dr Yuvraj Kaginkar. The doctor couple has also submitted applications under the Right to Information Act with the Byculla Zoo, asking for post-mortem reports of tiger deaths in the zoo.
What was the dissertation on tigers about?
Tripathi's dissertation was titled 'A clinical study on Xylazine-Ketamine Anaesthsia and its reversal in tigers' (a copy of which is with dna) and submitted to the Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli (Agriculture University), for a Masters degree in veterinary science. According to the study, the tigers were anaesthetised for 'treatment of anorexia and dehydration, wound management, ultrasound and collection of blood samples for routine hematological examination'.
'Anaesthetic trials' conducted on national animal
Eleven 'anaesthetic trials' were conducted on four Royal Bengal Tigers and two White Tigers from the VJBU zoo and Sanjay Gandhi National Park, according to the dissertation. The tigers were injected with anaesthesia, and a reversal agent to 'study' their effects after being put in a 'squeeze' cage, says the dissertation.
What is the trust's allegation?
“No vet would administer anaesthesia in these conditions. We want to know whether permission was taken from the CZA for the trials. Why was anaesthesia used to treat something like dehydration? It has to be done with utmost care for tigers as an it can lead to severe respiratory depression, renal failure, bradycardia, shock and even death. Is it safe to allow students to use tigers, an endgangered species, as guinea pigs like this?” asked Dr Kaginakar, who alleges that Dr Tripathi had participated in the trials, including handling of the tigers.
Were there any adverse effects on the tigers?
According to the dissertation, the tigers were anaesthetised in two conditions, one, a 'calm and quiet environment' and two, by 'extreme threatening and teasing for long period before mobilization'. Dr Tripathi's thesis says that one of the tigers subjected to the latter environment showed side effects like 'severe, cardiac and respiratory depression after administration of xylazine and ketamine'. “Why were the tigers subjected to this?” asked Dr Gupta.
What was the dissertation on deer about?
The second dissertation was titled 'Studies on castration in deer using Xylazine-Ketamine Anaesthesia', done by a then student called Kamal Kumar, also for a Masters in veterinary science. The thesis was submitted to the Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University.
According to the study, '12 apparently healthy and mature deer' were selected for the study. The study 'was an evaluation and comparison of castration by the Burdizzo method with vasectomy' carried out at the Byculla Zoo.
Why did two of the deer die?
After the castration, two deer died, says the dissertation. “One deer of group I and another deer of group III had rectal temperature of 108 °F and 107.8 °F at the onset of anaesthesia,” it says. “Why were healthy deer subjected to such trials?” asked Dr Gupta.
The dissertation says that post-mortem of the deer revealed that 'both had severe congestion of lungs, kidneys and liver, along with haemorrhages on the intestine'. The brain also was affected. “The lesions were indicative of hyperthermia,” said the dissertation.
What is the trust's charge?
“Overdose of anesthesia is one of the main causes of death by hyperthermia,” said Dr Kaginkar.
What is the zoo official's defence?
When dna contacted Dr Tripathi, he said, “I did not participate in the study in any way. I was just an observer and this was my research project. The procedure was done by the zoo's doctors including Dr MV Vani, the then deputy superintendent. I may have assisted the doctors in giving medicine but I was not at all involved in the administration of anaesthesia. Students can't do that. These are standard procedures for which you do not need the permission of the CZA. This is some doctors with a personal vendetta against me. Please check their credentials too.”
On the death of deer after the castration study, Dr Tripathi said, “Such things happen sometimes.”
What did the CZA say?
When dna contacted BS Bonal, member secretary of the CZA, he confirmed he had received the complaint, but refused to comment on the matter. “It would be premature to speak now. We have asked for the factual reports,” he said.
Did a tiger go missing from CZA's inventory in 2005?
According to the CZA's inventory available on its website, in 2004, there were two Royal Bengal tigers at the Byculla Zoo. One of them, a female, died that year. The other one was a male. However, the male tiger disappears from next year's inventory. There is no mention of it having died or being given away, in the records. Since then, there has been not a single tiger in Byculla Zoo.
PETA speaks
Dr Manilal Valliyate, director of veterinary affairs, People For Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, said, “If these allegations of students performing these trials are true, then this is a very serious offence under the Wildlife Protection Act and the Recognition of Zoo Rules. Until the CZA approves, no research can be conducted on wild animals in a zoo. Moreover, anaesthesia is usually administered on such wild animals only for serious ailments which involve invasive procedures and a detailed medical examination. It is quite risky as it can lead to many complications and jeopardise the animal's health.”
Tiger reduced to a lab animal?
The Tiger is our national animal. It protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act. They are an endangered species. According to the chapter IVA of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1976, the CZA has to 'co-ordinate research in captive breeding and educational programmes for the purpose of zoos'.
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