Old lioness dies in Odisha's Nandankanan zoo

BHUBANESWAR: A 19-year-old lioness died at Nandankanan, on the outskirts of the city, on Friday afternoon. The zoo officials, quoting preliminary inquiry, said the animal might have died due to intestinal complications found in old age.

The lioness was not taking food for last two weeks. "Veterinary doctors had diagnosed some intestinal problems. Postmortem report will reveal the exact cause of death," said zoo director Sudarshan Panda.

Assistant director of zoo Kamal Lochan Purohit said it was kept under observation. "Chicken, milk and egg were being served to the animal on the recommendation of the doctors," he said.

With the death of the lioness, the feline population in the zoo has come down to 13. Nandankanan had recently got two Asiatic varieties of lions from Junagadh zoo. tnn