A file picture of Noor Jahan being taken to Birsa Munda Biological Park on Monday. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, July 23: Barely a week after the animals of the Samrat Circus were shifted to the Birsa Munda Biological Park, one of the tigresses brought to the zoo breathed her last today.

Noor Jahan, the tigress, was not in good shape as she suffered from a blood infection. Her death now raises questions about the health of the other animals brought from the circus.

Of the 15 animals brought from the circus, Noor Jahan was the weakest, zoo authorities said. The condition of her mate, Salim, was also unsatisfactory, zoo director A.K. Pandey pointed out. Salim and Noor Jahan were quarantined immediately after their arrival at the zoo, but the damage was already done.

Though Salim showed signs of recovery, the condition of the tigress deteriorated and she eventually died, Pandey added.

The other animals brought from the circus include nine lions, three tigers, a leopard and a Himalayan bear. Zoo officials claimed that none of the animals was properly looked after at the circus.

“The animals have not been cared for and they received no medical attention. The animals are also malnourished, which makes them susceptible to dangerous diseases,” a zoo official said.

Pandey told The Telegraph that Noor Jahan refused to take any food for the past two days, which had made her weak. “The animal refused to take meat, which is given to the beasts. The tigress had some blood protozoa infection, which had weakened her immunity system. The animal’s refusal to eat only deteriorated her condition and she succumbed to her weaknesses,” he added.

Another zoo official said both Salim and Noor Jahan suffered from a disease called hypnasoma, which is caused by insect bites.

The animals were exposed to unhygienic conditions while they travelled with the circus team. There was no medical check-up and so, the disease was not diagnosed earlier. “Noor Jahan was brought here in her last stage and we couldn’t do much,” the official added.

“Salim has shown some signs of improvement and his haemoglobin count has also increased. The blood count of the tiger was merely nine per cent when he was brought here. The lion cubs brought from the circus were running a temperature, which affected their appetite. However, they have recovered now and the other animals too have shown signs of improvement,” he pointed out.

An autopsy of Noor Jahan’s carcass was done today and the tigress was buried in the park in the presence of senior zoo and forest department officials.

The animals of Samrat Circus were brought to the zoo following an order of the Central Zoo Authority.