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Cub Physiotherapy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Zoo authorities have initiated physiotherapy to make Akash, the one-year-old paralyzed lion cub walk again. The lion cub has also been bolstered with two hip support belts which enable him to stand on his feet for sometime. This is for the first time in the history of the zoo that an animal is being subjected to physiotherapy.

"We are now trying to make him stand on his legs at least for some time. The belts give him the required strength and support. In future we hope that the cub will be able to support itself with frequent and rigorous treatment," director of the museum and zoo K Udayavarman said on Wednesday.

Akash, who was born with defective limbs, had got paralyzed three weeks ago. Both of his hind legs had weakened and he was shifted to the zoo hospital. A special team has been looking after Akash ever since he was paralyzed. Following his paralysis, minister for zoo P K Jayalekshmi had come up with an offer to provide assistance to restore Akash's mobility. "He has been responsive to the treatment and has been eating well. We are also glad that the paralysis hasn't affected other body functions and he has been keeping good health which is very important for his treatment. However, since he was born with defective limbs, it is going to take quite a long time before he can support himself," another zoo official said.

Akash along with his sister Aradhana have been the most favourite animals for zoo visitors ever since they were born in April 2010. The zoo officials have been rearing both the cubs with special care right from the time their mother Aiswarya delivered them. However, with Akash getting paralyzed, he was made an off-exhibit and was shifted to a separate enclosure where he is being attended by a special team led by two zoo vets.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Physiotherapy-to-help-paralyzed-lion-cub-walk-again/articleshow/14679223.cms

Tiger cub found dead

MYSORE: A tiger cub has been found dead deep inside Bandipur National Park, raising concerns over the safety of tigers due to territorial fights in the tiger reserve.

This is the second such death in Bandipur in five weeks. On May 30, a tiger was found dead in Moolehole range bordering Kerala. The officials had cited territorial fight as the cause of its death.

On Monday evening, the field staff on patrol spotted the carcass of the cub at Gundre range. According to conservator of forests Kumar Pushkar, who heads the reserve, the 18-month-old might have died following a fight with another tiger. Its body parts were intact and there is no foul play, he added. The field staff are reporting territorial fights between the big cats, indicating a rise in tiger population in the reserve, he said.

A postmortem was conducted on Wednesday in the presence of APCCF and field director (project tiger) B J Hosmath and C M Shivakumar, assistant inspector general of forests, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NCTA). There were representatives from the NGOs too.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Tiger-cub-found-dead/articleshow/14663279.cms