Suspected TB killing bears at Bannerghatta
Poornima Nataraj and Chethan Kumar, Bangalore, July 22, 2012, DHNS:
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A strange infection that is believed to be causing human tuberculosis (TB) in bears has resulted in the death of a 14-year-old sloth bear Vivek and put lives of another 10 bears in critical condition at the Bear Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (BRRC) at the Wildlife SOS in Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP).
Officials at BBP on Sunday said that Vivek died of the disease around 9:15 am, two days after 15-year-old Yamini died of TB.
Vivek was under treatment for three months.
A total of nine bears have been reported dead since November 2010 at the centre.
?Ten more bears, all in the age-group of 15-25 years, are critical. Despite strenuous efforts, veterinary doctors have been failing to accurately diagnose the disease. The results vary, which is proving to be costly,? the in-house Wildlife Vet, Arun A Sha, told Deccan Herald.
The problem, he said, is that the animals did not show symptoms of the disease. ?But those who are in a critical condition have lost their appetite and consume very little milk and porridge. The doctors are just unable to determine and diagnose the disease at an early stage, and we are unable to save the animals.
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Poornima Nataraj and Chethan Kumar, Bangalore, July 22, 2012, DHNS:
<FIGURE class=floatLeftImg>
A strange infection that is believed to be causing human tuberculosis (TB) in bears has resulted in the death of a 14-year-old sloth bear Vivek and put lives of another 10 bears in critical condition at the Bear Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (BRRC) at the Wildlife SOS in Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP).
Officials at BBP on Sunday said that Vivek died of the disease around 9:15 am, two days after 15-year-old Yamini died of TB.
Vivek was under treatment for three months.
A total of nine bears have been reported dead since November 2010 at the centre.
?Ten more bears, all in the age-group of 15-25 years, are critical. Despite strenuous efforts, veterinary doctors have been failing to accurately diagnose the disease. The results vary, which is proving to be costly,? the in-house Wildlife Vet, Arun A Sha, told Deccan Herald.
The problem, he said, is that the animals did not show symptoms of the disease. ?But those who are in a critical condition have lost their appetite and consume very little milk and porridge. The doctors are just unable to determine and diagnose the disease at an early stage, and we are unable to save the animals.
More...
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