Young giraffe dies

One of the four remaining giraffes at the Dhaka Zoo in Mirpur. A total of 19 animals died in the zoo in one year.Photo: STARStaff Correspondent

A female giraffe of Dhaka Zoo died yesterday.

"The giraffe died at 2:00pm after suffering from absolute dehydration," Dr Aminur Rahman, curator of the zoo, said.

The two years and 10 months old giraffe was suffering from dehydration as it stopped taking food and water since September 1, the zoo authorities said.

Dr Rahman said that as the giraffe was found sick, they formed a medical board on September 3 and it was under treatment according to the board's advice.

It was among five giraffes brought from South Africa in June last year.

With this, a total of 19 rare animals died at the zoo in a year.

A total of five giraffe were brought to the zoo from South Africa on June 27 last year.

Earlier, a sambar deer died in the first week of May. In March, a baboon, a wildebeest and the last member of Malayan tapir died. One Royal Bengal tiger, two fresh water crocodiles, one zebra and a lesser adjutant stork died in February.

The zoo is located on about 186 acres of land in Mirpur housing around 2,160 animals of 157 species.

Of them, 57 species are mammals including elephant, Royal Bengal tiger, lion, cheetah, rhinoceros, zebra, monkey, chimpanzee, and hippo. There are 61 species of bird, 11 species of reptile including snakes and crocodiles and 28 species of fish.

Every day the zoo attracts about 10,000 visitors.