THE five spotted deer that died between November 10 and 13 at Peach Park succumbed to either over-sensitivity to medicine or medicine poisoning, according to sources with the park. Deer are first-class State-level protected animals in China.

On November 9, Zhu Changhua, the contractor of the deer park, bought medicine called Metrifonate, a strong helminthic, from a vet station on Hutai Lu.

Two bags of medicine were fed to the deer with other feed. After a day, some deer developed a negative reaction to the medicine. Their limbs became weak and they lost their appetite.

After treatment, four deer died on November 10 and 11. On November 13, another died. All four were adult deer from eight to nine years old. The average lifespan of a deer is between 10 and 20 years.

Cai Zhengqing, manger of the Peace Park, said it was the first time the deer park used this medicine. He did not believe it was legitimate medication. Among the three bags of pills bought by Zhu, one bag was found to be moldy.

“All animals living in zoos, whether vegetarian or carnivore, should have helminthic in spring and autumn,?said an official surnamed Xia who is in charge of vegetarian animals at Shanghai Zoo.

“If the helminthic is allowed to build up in animal’s bodies, they can become unhealthy and even die. In this case, some deer may have eaten too many pills mixed with their feed, which led to their deaths.? “With the results of the autopsies carried out by experts from Shanghai Zoo, what we do next is to look for the medicine seller and ask them to give us an explanation,?said Gao Hongzhi, president and general manager of the Peace Park. “The possibility of solving the problem through legal means also exists.? But the official didn’t say if Zhu Changhua, who bought the medicine, would be punished.

Costs vs profits

Gao said the park employed Zhu as a contractor because “he could raise the deer better than the park officials and we aim to see the deer lead better lives and also please the visitors.? Gao mentioned a problem facing the park is the high costs of raising deer. The park only charges 3 yuan (4 US cents) for admittance which is the park’s main income. Shanghai Zoo and the Wildlife Park charge from 30 to 80 yuan (US$3.6 to 10) for admission. “In addition, they are subsidized by the government,?Gao said.

“Our contract with Zhu is just for public welfare and not for profit,?she said. The main reason for Zhu’s employment as a contractor was his “love of animals.? According to a report in the Oriental Morning Post, the park signed a five-year contract with Zhu.

Zhu said there are three people taking care of the remaining 41 deer. The yearly costs for feed, cleaning, health care, water and electricity totals about 100,000 yuan (US$12,100).

Both Kang and Zhu confessed the deer park’s main income is from cutting pilose antler and selling it to medicine companies, but Zhu said the amount was insignificant when compared with the considerable cost.

“It is normal for a deer raiser to cut pilose antler,?Xia said. When they are raised in a confined area, male deer may hurt each other during rutting season. “So cutting some pilose antler is a way to protect animals in the zoo, but it is not a must, it depends on the actual situation,?he added.

Pilose antler is a treasured traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is believed to strengthen people’s kidneys, bones and muscles.

The belief of TCM is that all the deer’s energy is gathered in the antler, so it must aid a long life.

Modern medical research shows that hypoxanthine in the antler helps fight ageing. Over time, the amount of this chemical in the human body decreases and taking pilose antler can supplement the shortage.

Therefore, raising deer is considered a “high profit?enterprise, according to a report on the official website Xinhuanet.

According to statistics from the pilose antler business in Jilin Province, China’s premier spotted deer breeding ground, Jilin has raised about 110,000 deer with a yearly pilose antler output of 45 tons, bringing in an estimated 100 million yuan (US$12.1 million) per year. The figures also show the price of pilose antler is estimated to be over 2,000 yuan (US$242) per kilogram, and each male deer is capable of producing 0.409 kilograms of pilose antler every year.

But none at the park would reveal the profits earned from their cutting.

Financial difficulties

All the animal parks in Shanghai are operated by private enterprises though they may belong to governmental institutions, according to Wang Xiaohong, vice-director of the Shanghai Forestry Bureau.

Many of the parks have financial difficulties. An official with Yangpu Park told the Oriental Morning Post they are considering “legally developing some commercial value from their animals.?According to the idea, apart from first and second class State-level protected animals, visitors may feed animals, and individuals may enter into a contract with the park to ensure various animals?reproduction.

The official complained the parks struggled with a lack of capital, not helped by meager ticket incomes, a lack of governmental support and the taking on board of greenland projects.

Performances and taking photographs are very popular in domestic animal parks, which not only entertain visitors but also raise crucial funds.

“It is understandable that parks need to collect more money to continue their normal operation.Developing some animal projects to entertain visitors is not a bad thing,?said Xu Jianzhong, a director with the Shanghai Zoological Society.

“It can improve the relationship between animals and human beings. Of course, the qualifications of the contractor should be guaranteed.? But opposition comes from experts outside the industry.

“In some private zoos in Japan, there are such animal shows. But in my view, the most important task of the zoo is to restore the natural environment of the animals and take good care of their breeding,?said Doctor Den Nagase from Tennoji Zoological Gardens in Osaka which helps preserve 15 national-level protected species.

“We have used and abused animals too much. If people can imagine what it would be like locked up in cages, they begin to understand and respect such ideals,?said Dr Jane Goodall, world-renowned conservationist who has spent over 40 years trying to save Africa’s Chimpanzees in the Gambe National Park in Tanzania.