Delhi Zoo installs TV for visitors to see country's oldest chimpanzee

In wake of a woman moving Delhi High Court alleging negligence in treatment of country's oldest chimpanzee, Rita, Delhi zoo has installed a TV screen outside its enclosure for visitors to watch ailing animal which cant move around much.  woman, who claims herself to be an animal rights activist, has alleged that zoo ministration is t providing proper treatment to chimpanzee and moved Delhi High Court on Friday seeking its intervention.

According to officials, chimpanzee is fighting -related health problems and has been put on a liquid diet.

" 59-year-old chimpanzee has t been keeping well since July 27. She has t been eating properly and has become frail. She doesn't move around much," a Delhi zoo official said.

"A decision to install TV was taken after woman alleged that zoo ministration was trying to hide something and that proper treatment was t being given to chimpanzee," he said.

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With help of a CCTV camera installed inside enclosure, visitors can watch animal on 55-inch TV screen put up outside gate.

" woman claimed that zoo ministration did t allow her to see Rita. We cant allow everybody near ailing chimpanzee. Only officials and veterinary officers are allowed. Since TV screen has been installed, w everyone can see how staff is taking care of animal," official said.

Delhi Zoo Curator Riyaz Khan said, "We are providing her vitamins, minerals, liver tonic and iron supplement syrup regularly. Since July 27, she is on a diet of juice, coconut water and milk with ground almonds and walnuts."

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India's oldest Chimpanzee Rita

Born on December 12, 1960, in Amsterdam Zoo and acquired by Delhi zoo in 1990, Rita is oldest chimpanzee in India and probably "oldest in Asia", according to Limca Book of Records. On aver, a chimpanzee has a lifespan of around 50 years.

On Sunday afteron, Rita was seen resting on a pillow, beside a waterbed and a pile of bananas, cucumbers, guavas, pomegranates that zoo staff kept for her.

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"We provided a mattress to chimpanzee as it has developed bedsores. A TV screen has also been installed inside enclosure for Rita to watch videos," official said.

Rita gets excited on watching TV and plays with a tyre, he said, ding zoo's veterinary officers are regularly monitoring her health condition. A team of experts from Indian Veterinary Institute in Bareilly is treating animal.

"Utkarsh Shukla, deputy director of Luckw zoo, visited chimpanzee on Thursday and suggested line of treatment. A three-member team constituted by Central Zoo Authority also took stock of her health," ar official said.

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