All zoos in UP shut for a week, surveillance stepped up in poultry farms

Indian Express

14-05-2025

THE UTTAR Pradesh government has ordered till May 20 the closure of zoos in Lucknow and Kanpur and Gorakhpur, as well as the Lion Safari in Etawah,after the detection of bird flu in a tigress that died at the Shaheed Ashfaqullah Khan Zoo in Gorakhpur, officials said on Wednesday. Thus, all zoological parks in the state would remain shut for a week, they added.
The Central Zoo Authority has deployed a five-member team of veterinary doctors and pathologists from leading wildlife institutions, the state government said on Wednesday.
A government official said the team would soon visit the Gorakhpur zoo to conduct a thorough medical examination of the animals for any signs of bird flu.
Taking serious note of the potential threat of H5 Avian Influenza (bird flu), Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath earlier directed officials to maintain strict vigilance across all zoos in the state.
Chairing a high-level meeting on Monday, Adityanath emphasised that the safety of animals and birds in zoos, bird sanctuaries, national parks, wetlands and cow shelters must be the highest priority. He instructed officials to take all necessary preventive steps, strictly following the guidelines issued by both the central and state governments to prevent the possible spread of the infection.
The team is expected to submit a report within 15 days, based on which further decisions regarding animal care will be taken.
The team includes representatives from the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairy, Wildlife Health Management Department, Wildlife Institute of India (Dehradun), ICAR Bareilly and Bhopal, and pathologists, the government said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Several other precautionary measures have been taken after the tigress's death earlier this month at the Gorakhpur zoo. The test reports of two other animals — a wolf and a leopard — that also died this month are awaited. The animals housed there are ubder continuous surveillance, officials said.
The sample of the tigress was tested at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Sources said the decision to close three zoological parks and the Etawah Lion Safari from May 13 to May 20 was taken after receiving the laboratory report from Bhopal.
'As a precautionary measure, we have decided to close the three zoos and the Lion Safari has also been closed for a week,' said Anuradha Vemuri, principal chief conservator of forest-Wildlife (PCCF-Wildlife).
The three zoos are Shaheed Ashfaqullah Khan Zoological Park in Gorakhpur, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden in Lucknow and Kanpur Zoological Park.
According to sources, this month, three animals — a leopard, a tiger, and a tigress — died at Gorakhpur zoo. The wolf died on May 4 and the tigress and leopard on May 7 and 8 respectively, said Divisional Forest Officer, Gorakhpur, Vikas Yadav.
The samples of the three animals were sent for testing last month. The report on the tigress was received recently.
'A strain of bird flu was detected, but it is yet to be confirmed whether that was the actual cause of death,' the official added.
During the closure period, all guidelines issued by the Animal Husbandry Department and the Central Zoo Authority, Government of India, will be strictly followed. All animals will be kept under continuous veterinary surveillance. If any symptoms related to the infection are observed, proper treatment and necessary measures will be taken.
As part of the preventive strategy, orders have been issued for regular sanitisation of zoo premises and the use of blow torches wherever necessary. During the meeting on Monday, the Chief Minister also stressed the importance of mandatory health screenings for all wild animals and birds, along with strict checks on their food to prevent contamination.
He directed that all zoo staff should be sensitised about avian influenza and provided essential safety equipment. Staff duties inside animal enclosures should be assigned based on the level of risk involved, he added.
Directions were also issued for strict monitoring of all poultry farms in line with safety protocols and tighter control over the movement of poultry products. Additionally, he directed the Health Department to evaluate the potential impact of H5 Avian Influenza on humans to help prevent any risk of transmission to the public.
The Chief Minister said authorities should stay in regular contact with institutions such as the Central Zoo Authority (New Delhi), National Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Department of Fisheries and Dairy and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar (Bareilly) to seek advice and implement necessary actions accordingly.
PCCF (Wildlife) Anuradha Vemuri also said in a statement that a special monitoring system and stringent health safety protocols are being enforced across all zoos in the state. All Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) have been directed to conduct regular health checkups for animals and to report any signs of irregularities. Moreover, wild animals are now being fed only after routine health assessments to ensure their well-being.'
Zoo employees have been instructed to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) kits and adhere to strict personal hygiene protocols. Regular sanitisation is being done at all zoos to prevent the potential spread of the virus. The Wildlife Department is in constant communication with the Central Zoo Authority, ensuring that all health safety guidelines are implemented, officials said.