Anthrax did not cause rhino death

After all, it was not anthrax that killed a male rhinoceros at the Delhi zoo in April. With all three samples from the deceased rhinoceros yielding negative results, the authorities at the Delhi zoo heaved a sigh of relief.

After all, it was not anthrax that killed a male rhinoceros at the Delhi zoo in April. With all three samples from the deceased rhinoceros yielding negative results, the authorities at the Delhi zoo heaved a sigh of relief.

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The samples were sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), a private lab in Delhi and also the premier National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi.

"All three samples have tested negative. There is no anthrax scare whatsoever," said Riaz Khan, zoo's curator (education).

Four-year-old male Indian rhinoceros Junior Raja, listed as an endangered species, was found dead on April 29 at its enclosure at the zoo.

Suspecting the symptoms to be of anthrax during the post mortem carried out by a special panel, the authorities had sent samples of blood, body parts and even the fodder that the animal ate the previous night to IVRF, Bareilly, NCDC, New Delhi and the private lab.