Zoos, lion safari step up sanitation, monitoring to check bird flu spread

Lucknow: After the announcement of closure of zoos and Etawah Lion Safari in view of the potential threat of H5 Avian Influenza (bird flu), the authorities concerned on Wednesday said that constant monitoring of animals is being carried out and intensive sanitation and cleanliness is being maintained to check any possible spread of the disease.After it was confirmed that that death of tigress Shakti at the Gorakhpur Zooon May 7 was due to bird flu, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a high-level meeting on Tuesday and instructed officials to take all necessary preventive measures promptly and strictly in accordance with the guidelines issued by both the central and state govts to curb the possible spread of infection.It was also decided that Gorakhpur, Kanpur, and Lucknow zoos and Etawah Lion Safari will also remain closed till May 20.On Wednesday, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) also ordered closure of all zoos and tiger reserves in the state till May 20.Officials at Gorakhpur Zoo said that after Shakti's death, two more animals, a female leopard, Mona, and a female wolf, Bhairavi, have died. They said that their viscera had been sent for testing and the reports are awaited.Director of Gorakhpur Zoo, Vikas Yadav, said: "All the remaining animals are healthy. Gorakhpur Zoo has 322 animals, including 150 birds, which are at a high risk of infection compared to the rest of the inmates. They are under strict monitoring."To be on the safer side, the zoo administration is randomly collecting samples of animals which will be sent for further analysis," he said.Officials said the tigress that died of bird flu was not being fed poultry. Gorakhpur Zoo administration is also trying to find out the exact cause for the outbreak of bird flu, which is airborne.Principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF-Wildlife) Anuradha Vemuri said that necessary precautions were being taken at all the places. "Bird sanctuaries may not be at risk as the season for the movement of migratory birds ended in March. The population at tiger reserves is also safe because they are wild and are not being fed anything from outside," she said.The zoos and Etawah Lion Safari have changed the diet of animals. Buffalo meat and mutton have replaced poultry completely as food at all places.Lucknow Zoo director Aditi Sharma said that no symptoms of bird flu were reported from any animal and the closure of the zoo was only a precautionary measure."On regular days, we clean the zoo in the morning and evening. Closure will allow us more intense and deep cleaning," she said.Etawah Lion Safari director Anil Patel has also ruled out any symptom of the disease and said that necessary precautions were being taken.