The Wildlife Department, strictly following the health safety standards, has closed all the zoos in the state and the Lion Safari of Etawah for a week.
बर्ड फ्लू का खौफ: उप्र के सभी चिड़ियाघर एक हफ्ते के लिए बंद, वन और स्वास्थ्य विभाग हाई अलर्ट पर
In view of the increasing threat of bird flu (avian influenza) in all zoological parks and safari parks of Uttar Pradesh, the state government has issued an order to close all the zoos of the state and the Lion Safari of Etawah for a week.
According to a statement issued by the state government here on Wednesday, a high alert has been issued in view of the increasing threat of bird flu.
The Wildlife Department has closed all the zoos of the state and the Lion Safari of Etawah for a week, strictly following the health safety standards.
Officials said on Wednesday that these precautionary steps have been taken after bird flu was confirmed in a tigress at the Shaheed Ashfaqulla Khan Zoo in Gorakhpur.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Anuradha Vemuri said that in view of the increasing threat of bird flu in the zoos and safaris of the state, the Central Zoo Authority has constituted a five-member team of veterinarians and pathologists to investigate the epidemic at the Shaheed Ashfaqulla Khan Zoological Park in Gorakhpur.
Vemuri said that after investigation, she will submit a report on the effect of avian influenza on wild animals within 15 days, according to which the state’s zoos and lion safaris will be maintained in the coming days.
He said that this team includes representatives of the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairy, Wildlife Health Management Department, Wildlife Institute of India Dehradun, ICAR Bareilly and Bhopal and pathologists.
Vemuri said that special monitoring system and health safety standards are being strictly followed in all the zoos of the state including Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, and Etawah Safari Park.
In accordance with the instructions issued in a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, zoos in Lucknow and Kanpur have also been ordered to be closed for seven days. The purpose of this decision is to prevent any possible infection of the virus and increase surveillance in zoos and poultry farms. The Chief Minister stressed the need for immediate and coordinated action in the departments.
He said, “The safety of animals and birds in zoos, bird sanctuaries, wetlands, cow shelters and national parks should be the top priority. All officials should work with diligence as per the guidelines of the central and state governments.”
Adityanath directed that all zoo premises be regularly sanitised, animals be given frequent health checks and the animals’ food and water sources be thoroughly checked.
The forest and health departments are on high alert, with zoo and safari staff instructed to use protective equipment such as masks, gloves and PPE kits while on duty. A tigress housed in the Gorakhpur zoo was confirmed to have died of bird flu.
Forest Minister Arun Kumar Saxena confirmed that the tigress that died in Gorakhpur was found to have bird flu.
Saxena said, “The lab report has confirmed bird flu in the tigress. As a result, surveillance has been stepped up not only in zoos but also in poultry farms across the state. The staff has been instructed to follow strict biosafety measures.”
Meanwhile, Lucknow zoo director Aditi Singh said no case of bird flu has been reported in the capital’s zoo but the zoo has been closed for a week as a precautionary measure.
“All animals are being closely monitored. A decision on reopening will be taken after reviewing the situation at the end of the week,” she said.
Bird flu or avian influenza is an infectious viral disease that mainly affects birds but in rare cases, if the virus takes hold it can spread to mammals and even humans.
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