TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Third Komodo dragon dies at Surabaya Zoo

Another male Komodo dragon at the Surabaya Zoo was found dead in its enclosure on Thursday morning

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Thu, August 7, 2014

Share This Article

Change Size

Third Komodo dragon dies at Surabaya Zoo

Another male Komodo dragon at the Surabaya Zoo was found dead in its enclosure on Thursday morning.

The cause of death of the large 11-year-old reptile was allegedly due to digestive complications. It is the third Komodo dragon to perish at the zoo this year, following the deaths of two other dragons in February and June.

'€œResults from the autopsy show that its digestive system was damaged and was not functioning properly, with visible red marks present on its intestinal walls,'€ Surabaya Zoo Provincial Enterprise (PDTS) operational director Dr. Liang Kaspe said on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.  

Dr. Liang refused to elaborate further on whether or not the animal'€™s intestinal damage had been caused by improper feeding, saying that the cause of death could only be determined after the conclusion of laboratory tests in one month's time.

'€œWe don'€™t know the exact cause of death. What'€™s clear, however, is that the Komodo dragon'€™s last meal is being tested in the laboratory,'€ she added.

According to a statement by the dragon'€™s keeper, the Komodo dragon had ignored its food on Tuesday, since when it had not eaten anything.

Dr. Liang denied that the dragon'€™s death was caused by food given it by visitors to the zoo, as the Komodo'€™s diet consisted mainly of meat, while the zoo's visitors are only gave peanuts to the animals.

Surabaya Zoo has become known as the '€œzoo of death'€ by critics, with widespread neglect being blamed for the deaths of hundreds of animals, including orangutans, a tiger and a giraffe.

The crisis prompted the Surabaya city administration to assume the management of the zoo. However, despite the change in management, animal deaths have continued unabated, eliciting calls from animal welfare groups for the zoo'€™s closure. (dyl)

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.