Nandankanan’s lone zebra dies due to suspected lightning

Bhubaneswar: The only male zebra at Nandankanan Zoological Park was found dead in its enclosure this morning. The zoo authorities suspect lightning could have led to its death.

“There was no symptom of weakness till yesterday. The animal had accepted food and its movement was normal. We suspect that the animal died due to heavy lightning last night,” a release issued by zoo authorities said.

The exact cause can only be ascertained after post mortem by experts of Veterinary College, it added.

With the death of the animal, Nandankanan has no more zebra to exhibit. The zoo authorities are in touch with other zoos to bring a zebra under animal exchange programme.

In 2015, four zebras had been brought to Nandankanan from Israel's Tel Aviv zoo under animal exchange programme.