The zoo veterinarian, Liang Kaspe, said Chandrika, a 17-year-old female tiger from India, was found dead on Thursday around 8 p.m. at the zoo's quarantine facility.

'€œIt was not a sudden dead because the tiger was already sick. The tiger had undergone intensive treatment over the past few months,'€ he told reporters on Friday.

He said that the tiger had lived longer than the average life span of a tiger, 15 years

'€œThe autopsy results showed tongue damage, missing teeth and lung infection,'€ he said.

Her tongue was shredded because of its own bites when chewing meals making it difficult for her to eat although she had a huge appetite.

'€œWe had treated her but she had difficulty eating. We could not prevent the tongue damage because of her own bites,'€ Liang said.

At least six animals have died in the zoo this year including Bawean deer (Axis kuhlii), barking deer, komodo, gnu and lion.

Commenting on the high number of animal deaths, Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini said she would see President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ask for assurance that city-owned company Surabaya Zoo Animal Park (PDTS KBS) could get a conservation license from the Forestry Ministry allowing it to manage the zoo.

Risma added she would invite Veterinary Faculty at Airlangga University to conduct autopsies and research as well as adding more monitoring cameras in the zoo. a

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