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Published: Monday February 18, 2013 MYT 5:09:00 PM
Updated: Monday February 18, 2013 MYT 7:39:38 PM

Horse, sun bear found dead in Malacca Zoo; poison suspected (Update)

By R.S.N.MURALI


Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam inspecting the dead stallion. Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam inspecting the dead stallion.

MALACCA: An Arabian stallion and a 14-year-old female Sun Bear have died in the Malacca Zoo. They may have been poisoned.

Visitors saw the sun bear's male mate lying protectively on the motionless body and alerted the zoo keepers at about 5pm on Sunday, Malacca Zoo's veterinarian Dr Zubaidah Kamarudin said on Monday.

Dr Zubaidah said an autopsy on the Sun Bear revealed that it had eaten a poisoned banana.

"We have yet to identify the poison but a police report has been made," she said.

She also revealed that poisoned oranges, bananas, and sugar canes were found in the chimpanzee and Orang Utan enclosures but the apes did not eat the food.

No feed was found in the enclosure of the stallion, named 'Basket'.

An autopsy is expected to be carried-out on the 17-year-old Basket by a team of veterinarians soon.

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