The Delhi zoo has issued an internal advisory for its staff to enforce the strictest biosecurity measures after H5 avian influenza or bird flu was recently confirmed in a tiger that died at UP Gorakhpur zoo. The month of May is a time when summer holidays are on, and fall is usually high in the zoo. 

This memorandum was issued on Thursday by Dr Sanjeev Kumar, an IFS and the director of the Delhi zoo. “In view of the recent instances of avian and bird flu at Gorakhpur zoo, UP, all preventive measures for preparedness and surveillance for avian influenza have to be carried out in order to keep animals, visitors, and its staff safe and healthy.”

Precautions inside Zoo

There are several precautions being taken to avoid any health crisis among animals. These precautions include wearing a uniform inside zoo premises and not taking gumboots, caps, masks, and shoes used in the zoo home. A bed of lime or bleached powder should be made in front of the entry and exit of the zoo and on other enclosures to avoid infection.

Birds and wild animals are also to be inspected 2 to 3 times a day, and entries should be made in the logbook. Any notable incident or death of birds and wild animals should be immediately reported to senior officers. The leftover food of birds and wild animals should be disposed of safely.

“All section officers must ensure strict compliance with the above safety rules in their respective sections,” stated the note issuing instructions for internal staff.

Earlier this month, a Tigeress named Shakti died at Gorakhpur zoo while the laboratory confirmed the H5 strain of bird flu by the National Institute of High Security Animal Disease (NIHSAD), Bhopal. The authorities are also investigating the death of a leopard and a wolf in the same zoo.