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Byculla Zoo Tiger Shakti’s Death Linked to Pneumonia as Lab Confirmation Pending

The nine-and-a-half-year-old big cat died on November 17 during a medical move following brief inappetence then retching.

Overview

  • A same-day post-mortem by Mumbai Veterinary College cited pyogranulomatous pneumonia leading to respiratory failure as the preliminary cause.
  • Organ samples were dispatched to the Wildlife Research and Training Centre in Gorewada, Nagpur, with the confirmatory report awaited.
  • Zoo officials rejected unverified media claims that a bone had blocked the tiger’s windpipe.
  • According to the zoo, Shakti stopped eating on November 15, ate a small amount the next day with subsequent retching, then suffered convulsions and died around 12:15 p.m. on November 17.
  • Authorities were notified in line with protocol, last rites were conducted, and animal welfare advocates have requested an investigation after the death became public days later.