20 wild cats died in Bannerghatta park in last 15 months

BANGALORE: Eleven lions and nine tigers have died at the Bannerghatta National Park here in the last 15 months, Karnataka forest minister C H Vijayshankar informed the state assembly.

Replying to a calling attention motion, he said the animals had died from January 2010 till now. In some cases the deaths were due to suspected infection caused by poultry fed to the wild cats.

However, the vehicles which transport the raw meat to the park had been sanitized and similar measures had been taken to keep the cages sterile.

He also said speciality hospitals for animals were being planned in the park premises.

All the lions that had been rehabilitated were those rescued from circuses.

Action had been taken against those responsible for the death of some the wild cats, he said.