Minister orders inquiry into male zebra’s death at Dehiwala Zoo

• The zebra was received from China via an  animal exchange programme six years ago

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

Wildlife and Forest Conservation Minister Pavithra  Wanniarachchi has ordered an inquiry into the unexpected death of the  only male zebra at the National Zoological Garden in Dehiwala yesterday.  

It was reported that the zebra died while being brought  from Ridiyagama Safari Park to Dehiwala Zoo for breeding purposes four  days earlier.  

The zebra was received by the county from China via an  animal exchange programme six years ago, and it was taken to the  Ridiyagama Safari Park.  

The male zebra was brought to the Dehiwala zoo for breeding purposes, and there are only two female zebras living in the zoo.  

The Dehiwala Zoo employees claimed that the zebra died due  to overdosing on some medicines given to it while on its way to the zoo.  The employees held a protest at the Dehiwala Zoo, demanding an impartial  inquiry over the sudden death of the only zebra.   The employees claimed that the animal was given a total of  47 1450 mg tablets on its way. The animal was received by the zoo last  Friday and when it arrived, the animal was not in a stable health  condition.