Animal caretakers at Indira Gandhi Zoological Park wear masks while cooking and feeding animals and birds as a precautionary measure following the outbreak of bird flu in Andhra Pradesh, in Visakhapatnam.
| Photo Credit: V RAJU
In the wake of reports of avian flu (bird flu) outbreaks in several States, including the State, the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) authorities have stopped feeding chicken and eggs to the animals in the Zoo as part of biosecurity protocols.
Spread over 600 acres, the IGZP is home to over 97 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, totalling over 900.
In view of the H5N1 avian influenza in wildlife, certain measures are being taken at IGZP to monitor and maintain the health of captive animals, including disinfecting vehicles entering the zoo as well as foot baths. Steps are being taken to ensure personal hygiene of keepers and other staff and hand washing before and after handling animals. The staff movement between enclosures, especially between birds and other enclosures has been limited. Authorities are ensuring staff wear protective gloves, masks and gowns when handling animals. Keepers and other staff are being educated on early signs of H5N1 and response protocols. The keepers and veterinary staff are constantly observing animals for any signs of illness such as lethargy, respiratory distress, runny nose or neurological symptoms.
Chicken meat has been removed from the diet of the captive animals in the zoo, boiled eggs and pasteurised milk is being supplied to animals in need. All canines are being vaccinated against influenza virus and all large cats against rhino tracheitis virus.
“Following the bird flu scare, we have stopped feeding chicken and eggs to the zoo animals. We are feeding beef and pork as an alternative to ensure the health of the animals,” IGZP Curator G. Mangamma told The Hindu on Sunday (February 16).
The carnivores are fed around 200 kg of beef and less than 5 kg of pork per day. Nearly 50-60 kg of chicken used to be fed in the past. Now, it has been stopped.
IGZP veterinary assistant surgeon P. Bhanubabu said preventive measures such as administering antivirals and antibiotics to the big cats have been taken. “All the zoo animals and birds are healthy now.”
There is also a circular from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Wildlife Department) dated January 3, 2021 regarding preventive measures after the outbreak of bird flu in States like Himachal Pradesh and large-scale death of migratory birds, said IGZP biologist M. Purushottam.
“In late December 2024, avian influenza (H5N1) was detected in Indian zoos, resulting in the death of three tigers and a leopard at a rescue centre in Nagpur. The outbreak raised concerns about the spread of the disease in animals and humans. Since then, extreme precautions have been taken whenever any outbreak occurs,” Mr. Purushottam told The Hindu.
IGZP is located in the middle of the Kambalakonda Reserve Forest and is the third largest zoo in the country. It was declared open to the public on May 19, 1977. The zoo houses Indian elephants, large one-horned rhinoceroses, Bengal tigers, Asiatic lions, Indian leopards, striped hyenas, dholes, sloth bears and gaur, among others.
Published – February 16, 2025 07:43 pm IST
