Bhubaneswar, August 29: Two marmoset monkeys have died at Nandankanan Zoological Park after allegedly being bitten by a venomous snake that entered their enclosure early Thursday morning, raising questions over the safety and maintenance of animal enclosures at the zoo.

The two marmosets were housed in enclosure No. 59(F) in the zoo’s ‘Monkey World’, which accommodates several species of exotic monkeys. According to sources, a venomous snake entered the enclosure sometime between 5 am and 6 am on Thursday and reportedly bit the two monkeys at an interval of about an hour. Both animals died within minutes of being bitten.

Zoo authorities have confirmed that the two marmosets died due to snakebite.

The incident has sparked criticism among animal lovers, who have alleged that negligence on the part of the concerned officials may have led to the deaths. Questions have also been raised over how a snake managed to enter an enclosure that was designed to protect the monkeys and prevent the entry of outside animals.

Sources said the mesh fitted around the enclosure was wide enough to allow a snake to pass through. Following the incident, the zoo authorities have reportedly replaced the existing wire mesh with a finer one to prevent snakes and other small animals from entering the enclosure.

Animal lovers have questioned why such a safety measure was not implemented earlier and alleged that corrective action was taken only after the deaths of the two animals.

They have particularly raised questions about the role of the zoo’s biologist, who is expected to monitor the conditions, safety and suitability of animal enclosures. They have demanded an inquiry to determine whether negligence by any official contributed to the deaths of the two marmosets.

Animal lovers have also warned that failure to address such lapses could put other animals at risk and potentially lead to further deaths at the zoological park.