GORAKHPUR, Nov. 14 -- Tigress Mailani passed away after a prolonged illness at the Shaheed Ashfaq Ullah Khan Zoological Park, in Gorakhpur, on Wednesday. Post-mortem examination findings revealed bird flu-like complications, marking the seventh death of a big cat at the zoo in the past eight months. Samples have been sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly, for pathological examination to determine the exact cause of death. According to Dr Yogesh Pratap, veterinary officer at the zoo, "She was suffering from multiple age-related ailments that affected her mobility, eyesight, and intestines. Her immunity had weakened significantly, and she was also affected by a recent bout of bird flu that spread on the zoo premises," Dr Pratap said. "The infection impacted her digestive system, kidneys, and liver, worsening her condition over time. Despite constant monitoring and treatment, she could not survive. She had been showing weakness and a lack of interest in food for several weeks," he said. Dr Pratap said that the 17-year-old tigress had been under medical supervision for the past six months due to deteriorating health. Mailani was rescued in 2013 and brought to Gorakhpur from Lucknow Zoo in January 2021. Mailani, who was rescued from the wild, was named after the forest area she was found in. "Mailani was the pride of Gorakhpur Zoo. Her loss is deeply felt by the entire staff and visitors. We will preserve her memory as part of the zoo's legacy," said Zoo director Yogesh Kumar Singh. The recent string of big cat deaths at Gorakhpur Zoo has raised serious concerns over its management and hygiene standards. The first death was reported in March when tiger Kesari died, followed by the deaths of female wolf Bhairvi on May 5, tigress Shakti on May 7, leopard Mona on April 8, and a caracal in May. Later, tiger Bharat also died, prompting debates over the zoo's maintenance....