Beef ban effect: Animals in Mumbai's national park now have to eat chicken

The ban on beef in Maharashtra that triggered the beef supplier's strike is set to affect animals as well, with captive carnivores like lions and tigers now being fed chicken in Mumbai's national park. As a result of the recent furore created over the ban, beef traders in the state are on strike to protest the new move, due to which the water buffalo (which is not banned) is not available.Thus, the animals are reportedly forced to survive on the chicken diet.
Lean meat for now
It's been over two weeks since the big cats are off buffalo meat, reveals Dr Sanjiv Pinjarkar, veterinarian officer at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. And it's not just these animals, there are also a highly endangered species of Indian vultures that used to eat beef and chicken, and now have to survive on the latter. It's not going to be a problem, though, maintains Dr Pinjarkar, “The main difference is that the fat percentage is less in chicken, and it's a lean diet, but as animals tend to get lesser exercise in the park, it is not actually a bad thing for them."
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At present, the city zoo has no wild cats -tigers, lions, leopards or cheetahs -as it is being revamped, but once they do, it will be water buffalo meat for them, says Mumbai zoo director, Anil Anjankar. “It will still take over a year, but when we do, that would be the best option," he states.
Can chicken be a substitute for animals? Yes, say experts
Being made to subsist on different fare may have its effects. Says veterinary expert Dr Manilal Valliyate, “Big cats in nature actually have a variety of preys, so it does not matter, but what is important to note is that any drastic or sudden changes in the diet are not good.Carnivores do eat a variety of meat and beef is just one part of it."
Adds city vet Dr Sangeeta Vengsarkar, “Buffalo meat is important for wild animals (carnivores) as they are obligate carnivores, which means they need certain amino acids present in meat, thus red meat is this good for them. But chicken is an equally good substitute, if not better. But it's inconvenient to be substituting red meat for chicken as the amount of chicken which will have to be eaten will be much more, which is not practical, monetarily . It is the same for dogs and cats -some people give buffalo meat to them, so once the strike ends, things may get better for these animals," she says.