Kanpur, May 19 -- Two tigresses and three leopards in the hospital area of Kanpur zoo, where the lion Pataudi succumbed to avian influenza on May 15, have stopped eating and are reportedly unwell.

A blackbuck has also stopped its food and water intake, officials familiar with the situation confirmed.

In the past week, two animals-a lion transported from Gorakhpur zoo in critical condition and a free-ranging peacock-have died at the Kanpur zoo due to avian flu . The deteriorating condition of more animals exhibiting symptoms of illness has raised concern among the zoo authorities.

On Sunday, veterinarians collected samples from the blackbuck and managed to obtain one sample from a tigress. Zoo director Shraddha Yadav stated, "The two sa...