Bird flu scare: Closure of UP zoos,safari park extended till May 27
Lucknow: The UP govt has extended the closure of three zoos and Etawah Lion Safari for one more week, until May 27, due to bird flu scare in the state. The facilities were to open on May 21, following a temporary closure of one week that was announced on May 14 as a precautionary move after a tigress, Shakti, died of bird flu in Gorakhpur zoo on May 7.
Since May 7, four animals – two each in Gorakhpur and Kanpur – have died in the zoos in the state due to the contagion.
"The decision was taken for the safety of animals there, as well as people. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed all to follow the guidelines of the Centre and the state govts on priority to prevent the infection from spreading. He has asked for regular sanitisation of zoo premises and monitoring of animals," said minister of state for environment, forest and climate change (independent charge) Arun Kumar Saxena.
The Chief Minister had chaired a high-level meeting on May 12, after which the closure order for Gorakhpur, Lucknow and Kanpur zoos and Etawah Lion Safari was issued by the forest department.
Gorakhpur zoo has reported three deaths – tigress Shakti, leopardess Mona and she-wolf Bhairavi – since May 7. The viscera of all three animals were sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, for analysis, which confirmed bird flu in the two big cats, while the she-wolf died of old age.
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Gorakhpur zoo director Vikas Yadav said: "We have randomly collected samples of our animals and sent them for analysis. The report may come in a day or two. No animal has reported illness after May 8."
Kanpur zoo has reported three deaths so far – lion Pataudi, a peacock and a Brahminy duck. NIHSAD, Bhopal, has confirmed bird flu in the lion and peacock while the report for the duck is awaited.
"All other animals are healthy now," said Kanpur zoo director Shraddha Yadav.
Meanwhile, a team of experts from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) visited Gorakhpur zoo on Tuesday and collected around 30 random samples from animals, transportation vehicles, water resources and other places inside the zoo. The teams also collected samples from outside the zoo premises. The teams will submit the report within 15 days.
The team comprised veterinary doctors and pathologists from leading wildlife institutions in the country. Based on the findings, the future course of action for the zoos and safari parks in the state will be determined.
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