Zoo eyes pork and chicken for big cats, hyenas as supply from abattoir dries up

Kolkata: Faced with a rapidly shrinking supply of beef, zoo authorities are scrambling to find alternative food sources for carnivorous animals, with chicken and pork emerging as temporary substitutes amid fears of a prolonged supply disruption.Officials said the crisis has forced authorities to alter feeding plans for some of the carnivores, including lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars and hyenas, all of which rely heavily on beef as part of their regular diet. The shortage has also raised concerns over maintaining the nutritional needs of the animals."We are facing immense problem in procuring beef. We have also contacted KMC. Till Tuesday, we had supplies of beef, but we will run out of the meat by Wednesday. With the approval of our veterinary doctors, we have started stocking up on chicken as an alternative to beef," said zoo director Tripti Sah.Zoo officials said they currently depend on supplies routed through KMC and the West Bengal Livestock Development Corporation Ltd. However, with supplies drying up, authorities have begun assessing other options, including pork.Sah said replacing beef entirely remains difficult and alternative arrangements may only provide temporary relief."Supply of sufficient quantity of pork is a challenge. Chicken cannot be continued for long, and we are definitely looking for other alternatives as well. But we are definitely hoping that somehow this crisis gets resolved," she said.The scale of the challenge is significant. During summer months, the zoo requires around 145-150 kg of meat every day to feed carnivorous animals. Feeding requirements rise further during winter.Officials said large predators generally consume around 8 kg of meat daily in summer, while intake rises to nearly 11 kg during winter. Chicken is usually given occasionally rather than as a primary source of nutrition.Animal nutrition experts and zoo sources indicated that beef plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of big cats because of its high fat and protein content and its supply of essential amino acids necessary for body weight and metabolic function.Sources said a nutritionally weaker replacement diet could forces authorities to depend heavily on oral supplementation, including vitamin and mineral mixtures, to prevent deficiencies among animals.The shortage follows recent state guidelines regarding slaughter of cows and buffaloes. The directive stated that slaughter can only be carried out in accordance with provisions laid down under the law enacted in 1950. Since the issuance of the guidelines, concerns have surfaced over an emerging shortage of beef and buffalo meat in different parts of the state.Health department officials at KMC said a series of meetings was held over the past two days in an attempt to address the issue, though talks have so far yielded little progress. Zoo authorities generally source beef through two dedicated suppliers operating out of Tangra. But the supply chain itself has now come under strain. "We are not getting any supplies at our slaughterhouse in Tangra. We have informed zoo authorities of alternative options of sourcing beef from Haringhata," a senior KMC official said.