Flu deaths: Bondla zoo closure cages footfall, chokes revenue
Panaji:
When a UK-based Goan, Rosalie Alagiri, arrived in the state for a summer vacation with her family, one of the top spots on her itinerary was Goa's only zoo at the
. Their weekend plans were cut short when they discovered that the zoo is off limits.
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The zoo has remained closed since April 1, following the death of five animals — three civet cats and two jungle cats — recorded between March 6 and 9. The jungle cats tested positive for the avian influenza virus strain H5N1.
The closure has caused the zoo to bleed revenue and has bred disappointment in potential visitors.
'Our four-year-old child was excited at the chance to visit the zoo at Bondla. We were disappointed when we were told that the zoo is not open to the public these days,' Alagiri told
TOI
.
The zoo charges an entry fee of Rs 100 per head.
'We have high footfall during the summer vacation and the zoo has already lost over Rs 1 lakh in April's revenue this year,' said a forest department official. 'If the zoo remains shut for the rest of May, we will have lost the total revenue during this peak holiday season.'
The zoo typically experiences a surge in visitor footfall during the summer months. According to the data shared by the forest department, footfall spiked in May last year, with 28,449 visitors viewing the wonders of the zoo.
A 15-day quarantine was imposed on the zoo following the avian flu deaths, which ended on April 15; however, the zoo is shut to date.
The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal is conducting the mandatory double-confirmation tests before public access is restored.
However, officials clarified that the wildlife sanctuary is still accessible even as the zoo enclosures remain off limits.
While forest department officials maintain that the closure is temporary, no official date for reopening has been announced. Meanwhile, for Goans and tourists, the zoo continues to be shut.
'We were told that the zoo here is beautiful and well-maintained. We will definitely visit on our next trip,' said Alagiri.
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