Blackbucks' death in Kota zoo due to contaminated fodder

The death of 16 blackbucks at Kota zoo on the night of December 19 could be due to contaminated fodder given to them. The test reports received from Bareilly-based Indian Veterinary Research Institute suggest that the fodder provided by the zoo authorities to these protected animals had excessive quantity of nitrates and nitrites. This excessive quantity could be due to uncontrolled use of chemicals in its farming.

According to forest officials, similar deaths of blackbucks were reported in various zoos in Agra, Lucknow and Kanpur and the reason too could be the same.