The stomachs of three of 11 dead zebras were cut with a sharp knife to hide the cause of their deaths at Bangabandhu Safari Park in Gazipur last month, reveals the probe report.
As it found some of the safari park officers guilty of hiding the deaths instead of taking the steps required, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has decided to file criminal cases to identify the culprits and take legal actions.
Formed after the death of the zebras in January, the probe committee confirmed that all the deaths were caused by hazardous effects of nitrate associated with mixed bacterial infections.
The decision to sue the safari park officers was taken at a review meeting chaired by Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Mohammad Shahab Uddin at the ministry recently.
The probe report said the on-duty officers and veterinary authorities did not take any action or call emergency medical services or inform high officials about the deaths of the zebras.
As part of their attempt to conceal the deaths, they cut the stomachs of three zebras with a sharp knife, according to the report.
The probe body held some of the safari park officers responsible for not filing any diary and for not informing the high officials about the unusual deaths following the incident.
The ministry earlier suspended some of the park officers over the allegations of negligence of duty.
Now, departmental cases will also be filed against those responsible for the deaths in order to take administrative actions.
The ministry officials said they have taken a set of measures to avoid such deaths in future as recommended by the committee.
Accordingly, a decision has been taken to set up a Disease Surveillance and Monitoring Wildlife Veterinary Hospital.
The ministry will implement all the 24 recommendations made by the inquiry committee in phases, the officials added.
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