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Article History

Received: 28 July 2025

Accepted: 5 February 2026

First Online: 12 February 2026

Declarations

:

: The research was conducted in accordance with the applicable Animal Protection Act of 21 August 1997 (Journal of Laws 1997 No. 111 item 723 and 724, Articles 27 and 28). Sampling from animals kept in captive conditions, both ante mortem and post mortem, for the purpose of determining the causes of their illness or death does not require additional permits from an ethics committee. Animals were sampled based on conditions specified in cooperation consent (ZW-066/39/24) between Zamość Zoological Garden and National Veterinary Research Institute in Puławy. All of the samples were collected from the animals with the consent of the zoo director, and none of the animals were injured during this process. Participation in scientific research on the protection of endangered species, breeding endangered animals and reintroducing them into their natural habitats, and providing animals with conditions that meet their biological needs are obligations imposed on zoos by the Nature Conservation Act of 16 April 2004 (Journal of Laws 2004 No. 92 item 880, paragraph 67, Article 1).

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.