BAHAWALPUR: As many as five urials (wild sheep), including their three lambs, died under mysterious circumstances at Bahawalpur zoo during last week.

Dawn learnt that three lambs, including a male and two females aged between two and three months each along with two adult females died between Aug 21 and 29 after they started falling ill turn by turn in the zoo.

Bahawalpur wildlife deputy director Ali Usman Bokhari holding additional charge of the zoo curator told this correspondent that their mortality was due to illness.

Bokhari claimed that the deaths were caused due to bacterial infection but he did not elaborate the reasons for the infection. He said vet teams from the universities of Lahore, Islamia University Bahawalpur and Cholistan University for Veterinary AnimalScience (CUVSC) were called to conduct the postmortem examination of bodies.

He claimed that the postmortem examination report also confirmed bacterial infection the cause of death.

It merits mentioning that the zoo has been awaiting appointment of a full time curator for three months and the alleged negligence of the lower staff can`t be ruled out.

The localzoo hasfaced a loss of several animals including seven Cheetal deer, two Pumas and nine offsprings of crocodile over the past some time.

No disciplinary action was taken against any zoo official despite inquiries into mortality cases were held.

ELECTROCUTED: A mason was electrocuted here on Wednesday.

According to Rescue 1122, Allah Wasaya (80), a resident of Maqbool colony, was working in a house in Hamitiyan when he was electrocuted. The body was handed over to his family.