Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim on Saturday said that the recent deaths of zebras, tigers and lions at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari park in Gazipur were caused by bacterial infection.
He made the statement during his visit to various projects under the Department of Livestock in Sylhet.
"The foreign animals at the zoo come from a climate and habitat different from that of our country. There are also many diseases and bacterial infections that may happen," the minister said.
He said that tests were carried out in multiple laboratories after the deaths of the animals, which showed that bacterial infection caused the deaths.
Rezaul ruled out the possibility of the deaths occurring due to negligence by zoo officials.
The government is working to ensure the safety of all animals at the safari park, he added.
Recently, 10 zebras in the park died within the span of one month. Nine of the earlier population of 22 zebras at the park died between January 2 and 24, according to the park authorities.
The death of an African lioness at the park was also reported on Thursday.
