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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Bird flu: Gkp zoo to remain shut till further notice
The outbreak of avian influenza H5N1 (bird flu) has dealt a severe economic blow to the Shaheed Ashfaqullah Khan Zoological Park in Gorakhpur which, according to officials, will remain closed till further notice. Earlier, the zoo was closed to the public in three separate spells from May 13 to June 10. Zoo director Vikas Yadav confirmed the temporary closure, stating that strict biosecurity measures have been implemented as per the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) guidelines to prevent any further spread of the virus. 'We are taking precautions to protect the animals from infection. Until we receive clearance, the zoo will remain closed to visitors,' he said. According to deputy director Yogesh Pratap Singh, all infected animals and birds are currently stable and under treatment. However, the zoo will only reopen after three consecutive negative reports are received from the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal. The 3.5-acre zoo, facing its first major crisis since the confirmation of the H5 strain of avian flu in a deceased tigress on May 13, has been a popular tourist attraction, especially for residents of the Gorakhpur and Basti divisions. Its closure over the past month has caused a considerable economic downturn. Noting that the zoo typically welcomes around 2,000 visitors -- mostly schoolchildren and wildlife enthusiasts -- daily, Yadav said it has suffered revenue losses estimated at ₹30 to ₹35 lakh due to the closure so far. The last set of samples from five infected animals, including two leopard cubs and a vulture, was sent for testing on May 23, and their results are still awaited. In addition, the second batch of samples from 35 other animals has also been sent to NIHSAD, with results pending, officials said. Officials have identified migratory birds and ducks in the nearby Ramgarh Lake, just 3km from the zoo, as the primary source of the avian flu strain.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Two crow deaths at Gorakhpur zoo increase bird flu worries
The death of two more crows on Saturday evening and Sunday morning has heightened fears of a worsening avian influenza outbreak at the Gorakhpur Zoo that is closed for visitors till May 20. Gorakhpur zoo deputy director Dr Yogesh Pratap Singh confirmed the discovery of the crow carcasses. He said both would be handed over to an expert team from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for pathological examination to confirm the presence of the bird flu virus. A five-member expert panel will begin a two-day inspection on Monday. A report on the avian influenza outbreak will be prepared following the inspection. The outbreak was initially confirmed by Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases on May 12, in a sample taken from the tigress Shakti. The team includes joint director, Animal Husbandry, Vijay Kumar Tetiya, Dr Manoj Kumar from NIHSAD and officials from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly. The team will inspect the zoo premises, animal enclosures, and the bird sanctuary area, collecting samples for laboratory analysis. They will also go through the deaths due to bird flu and analyse the steps taken till now. Till now, three deaths due to bird flu have been reported at the Gorakhpur zoo. An over seven-year-old tiger Keshri died on March 30, a leopard succumbed on April 7, while the tigress Shakti died on May 8, Gorakhpur divisional officer Vikas Yadav said. Bird flu was confirmed in their samples, he added. The Asiatic lion Pataudi, which was shifted from Gorakhpur to Kanpur on May 11, died on May 15. His sample and that of a dead peacock at the Kanpur zoo, too, tested positive for bird flu, according to officials. All zoos in Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Kanpur) and the Etawah lion safari are closed till May 20 as a precaution against bird flu. Forest department officials indicated that the closure is likely to be extended.
