Zoo: Plastic a big threat

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Though the city zoo is a plastic-free zone, several cases of animals consuming plastic are coming up. On Monday, two hyenas belonging to the zoo were subjected to video endoscopy following the suspicion of the entry of indigestible foreign materials into their digestive tract. One hyena had died weeks ago owing to plastic consumption. While the zoo remains a plastic- free zone, there are no ways to check the entry of plastic inside the Museum compound. According to zoo director K Udayavarman, plastic enters the zoo through birds and a small percentage via visitors. “People coming to the Museum also have food on the premises. Plastic food wrappers are carried to the zoo either by wind or by birds. Though there is checking at the zoo, some still carry plastic objects inside,” he said. Unless the city becomes a plastic-free zone, this cannot be controlled, he added.