LAHORE: One of the two Bengal tigers the zoo claimed to have recovered by some 50 per cent, died of blood parasite on Tuesday.

The zoo had five tigers out of which three died.

Rawal was brought to the Lahore Zoo in 2013 at the age of three. The tiger had been treated for blood parasite for the last 10 days. According to zoo officials, the tiger was improving as it started taking food, but on Tuesday the big cat lost battle against the deadly blood parasite.

The body has been sent to University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. The other tiger - Sam - suffering from the same disease is fighting for life.

On the other hand, the wildlife officials in a meeting held on Tuesday at the zoo with Director General Wildlife Khalid Ayaz Khan in the chair decided to hold a seminar inviting veterinarians from all over the province to figure out the issues leading to rapid deaths of big cats.

Mr Khan directed the zoo staff to keep a track record of the history of all big cats and their health reports should be issued on a monthly basis.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2018