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The Orissa unit of the Congress has threatened an agitation demanding the restoration of beef supply to the Nandankanan zoo.
The supply was stopped as the main supplier was arrested in the first week of June on charges of cow slaughter.
"We would hold state-wide agitations if the beef supply to the Nandankanan zoo is not restored within 15 days," former state excise minister and member of the legislative assembly Suresh Kumar Routray said.
"We have already served an ultimatum to the government by submitting a memorandum in this regard," he told rediff.com
The zoo is located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. It has about 700 animals including lions and tigers.
Ever since the supply of beef stopped, zoo officials have been feeding chicken and goat meat to the carnivores. The government had announced that it would amend the cow slaughter act to restore the beef supply. However, various Hindu organisations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Bajrang Dal, are not in favour of amending the act.
Due to lack of adequate food and treatment facilities, the health of various animals is deteriorating. A white tiger was reported to have died on Saturday due to the lack of treatment.
"We need 850 kg of beef every day to meet the requirement of the zoo. Nobody is willing to supply the beef fearing police arrest," a zoo official said on condition of anonymity.
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