BAHAWALPUR: A seven-year old male Bengal tiger died of kidney failure at the Bahawalpur Zoo on Sunday.

The beast, who was born in the zoo on April 10, 2018 and was about seven-year-old, was also visually-impaired and needed eye treatment, which was not possible in Pakistan, as per officials.

However, Dawn has learnt that the cause of the tiger’s death was kidney failure and it started showing symptoms just a few days back.

As per sources, when the animal’s condition became precarious, it was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU), specially established at the zoo, but he could not survive.

The plight of the tiger suffering from eye disease was highlighted by Dawn, but the none of the wildlife department officials concerned took notice.

Bahawalpur Division Wildlife Deputy Director Muhammad Usman Bokhari, who also held additional charge of the zoo curator’s office, says the visually-impaired tiger used to take normal diet of beef daily.

However, he added that about three days ago he was informed by the staff concerned that the tiger had fallen ill and stopped eating.

He said that on knowing about the animal’s condition, he immediately sought assistance of the zoo’s officiating veterinary doctor, who examined it, taking its temperature and noting pulse and respiratory (TPR) condition.

He said after the tiger was diagnosed with kidney ailment, it was shifted to the ICU in the zoo, where he was provided symptomatic treatment for gastroenteritis and kidney infection.

Mr Bokhari denied any negligence in the treatment of big cat and claimed that vets looked after it around the clock.

According to the deputy director, the postmortem examination of the tiger was conducted by a team of vets comprising Dr Tariq Hussain and Prof Dr Riaz Hussain, pathologist of the faculty of veterinary and animal sciences at the Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB).

In their joint postmortem report, the vets mentioned Nephrotic Syndrome (nephrosis/renal failure) leading to multiple organ failures (cessation of vital organs) of the beast, resulting in the beast’s death.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2025