Stray muntjac dies despite zoo rescue effort

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A red muntjac died of hunger and gastric ulcer last night despite a surgery to treat its broken leg, Shanghai Zoo said today.

Malnutrition led to the deer's organ failure and gastric ulcer, said Bai Jiaming, a zoo official, after an autopsy was conducted.

Bai said the muntjac had been injured for a long time and did not receive timely treatment.

The deer was brought to the zoo on Wednesday night after police found it was wandering on a street in Baoshan District, attracting many onlookers. Police notified the Baoshan Wildlife Protection Station which brought the animal to the zoo for health check.

Veterinarians found the male muntjac suffered a fractured forelimb and was severely undernourished. Fearing it might die any time, the zoo doctors immediately performed on its broken leg.

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