Nagpur zoo halts chicken feeding after 3 tigers and leopard die from suspected bird flu

Maharajbagh Zoo in Nagpur has suspended the feeding of chicken to its wild animals following the deaths of three tigers and a leopard at the Gorewada Rescue Centre, located in the city. The animals, which had been relocated from Chandrapur due to man-animal conflict, died at the rescue centre in late December. Samples taken from the deceased animals were sent to Bhopal for testing, and the results, received on January 2, confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus, which causes avian influenza.

Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik stated that the initial suspicion is that the animals contracted the virus from consuming chicken. However, he emphasized that the exact cause of death will be conclusively determined only after further investigations. As a precaution, the authorities have ordered the inspection of food supplies provided to wild animals at various zoos and wildlife facilities in Nagpur, including Maharajbagh Zoo. The zoo has stopped feeding chicken to its animals, although tigers at the zoo do not consume poultry, and the decision primarily impacts other species, such as leopards.

Sunil Baviskar, the Chief Health Officer at Maharajbagh Zoo, clarified that leopards and other animals at the zoo, which may occasionally consume birds in their natural habitat, were previously fed chicken. To mitigate the risk of avian flu, all poultry supplied to the zoo has been temporarily suspended. Baviskar assured that none of the zoo's animals are exhibiting symptoms of avian influenza, and disinfection measures are being carried out regularly, with sanitation occurring every two days.

Following the deaths of the four felines, the Gorewada Rescue Centre has been temporarily shut down for safety measures. The centre has been following the Union government's advisory, which instructs wildlife facilities to implement preventive actions to safeguard animals from avian influenza. The advisory emphasizes treating poultry before feeding it to animals and ensuring that proper disinfection procedures are followed at all facilities.

In addition to measures at Maharajbagh Zoo, other zoos in Maharashtra have implemented similar protocols. At Siddharth Zoo in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, food for the 12 tigers and a leopard is being treated with boiled water and cold-chain technology to ensure safety from the avian flu virus. These precautionary actions have been introduced to prevent the spread of the virus after the confirmed bird flu deaths of the tigers and leopard at the Gorewada Rescue Centre.