Penguin chick dies of birth anomalies in Mumbai zoo

MUMBAI: On Independence day the first penguin born in India at the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan (Byculla zoo) died within a week of its birth on Wednesday night. Zoo authorities stated it two days later, on Friday.

A post-mortem done by a team of professors from Parel's Bombay Veterinary College on Thursday revealed "newborn anomalies like yolk sac retention and liver dysfunction" were the major cause for the chick's death.

The veterinary team issued a note stating the parents 'Mr Molt' (male) and 'Flipper' (female) "were taking good care of the chick , however as a matter of surprise the chick was found to be sinking on August 22". They added that despite the team’s efforts, the chick was found dead the same night.

Zoo director Sanjay Tripathi told a source, “It was a birth anomaly. The first 30 days for first time penguin parents are crucial. Penguin eggs and chicks show 60% mortality. In this case there were complications that developed suddenly and since it was all internal, we did not know until Wednesday, when it deteriorated in 12 hours. There was drastic reduction in its activity. It showed dullness and the vets tried to feed it forcibly because overnight its weight had dropped by around 15 grams. We realised it was gone when it stopped making movements and chirping sounds.”

Molt and Flipper had delivered an egg from which hatched a chick that was much celebrated by animal lovers who circulated its photograph, clicked in protected atmosphere. A healthy 75 grams at birth, its weight had increased to 97 on August 21. Its sex had not been determined and it was not open to viewing by the public as zoo authorities had said it needed to be kept in the secluded nesting area for a few months.

The chick was cremated on Thursday evening at the zoo’s botanic garden. “We’ve taken all samples for a histopathology report that is expected in four days,” Tripathi said. Unlike any other week, the zoo was open this Wednesday on the occasion of Bakrid and was to be shut on Thursday.

“Birds born in captivity have a weaker immune system and are more susceptible to infection than those born in the wild, where immunity is constantly challenged by nature,” said Dr Rina Dev, avian and exotic specialist.