Indore:
In a rare case, a 33-year-old Himalayan bear that had suffered paralysis over two years ago, was
on Saturday given 'mercy death' at the Kamla Nehru zoo, authorities said.
"As part of the mercy killing, Sonu was first given anaesthesia and half an hour later another injection was
administered and he was put to sleep forever," in-charge of civic-run Kamla Nehru zoo, Dr Uttam Yadav, said.
For giving mercy death to the ill bear, the zoo authorities had sought permission from Delhi-based Central Zoo Authority as well as the Chief Wildlife Warden in Bhopal, which gave their nod to the move.
Sonu was born in the same zoo, Dr Yadav said adding that before the mercy killing, the staff of the zoo had decorated his cage with flowers and the bear was given his favourite food before the injection was administered.
"The average age of a bear is 25 to 30 years, but Sonu was around 33 years old," Dr Yadav said.
"The bear was in great pain due to paralysis. He was not only struggling to eat properly, but it had rendered him helpless in his daily movements," Dr Yadav said.
After the death, a post-mortem was conducted on Sonu's carcass, which was later buried.
According to Yadav, Sonu's carcass will be exhumed six months later and the skeleton will later be kept at the zoo's information centre, as it will help the veterinary students in their studies and research".