Nainital Zoo on High Alert for bird flu scare; chicken, eggs removed from carnivores’ diet

The G B Pant High Altitude Zoo in Nainital has been put on high alert in view of the rapidly spreading bird flu across the country. The State Forest Department and Nainital zoo administration took the measures on receiving the guidelines issued by the central government.

Following directives from the Central Zoo Authority, the GB Pant High Altitude Zoo, Nainital, has strengthened its supervision and preventive measures to protect the birds and other wildlife in its captivity.

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Nainital Zoo officials are taking necessary steps to the prevent the vulnerable animals from the highly contagious bird flu.

Nainital Zoo deputy director Swati informed that the zoo administration has enforced big changes in the diets of the animals according to the instructions of the Central Zoo Authority. As a precaution, birds are now being fed only fruit, while chicken and eggs have been taken away from the diets of carnivorous animals.

“Earlier, carnivorous animals in the zoo were given 10 kilograms of chicken daily, but now both chicken and egg feeds have been stopped. Instead, adequately boiled mutton is being provided to them, particularly tigers, leopards, and a few other carnivores,” said Swati. She added, “A special team of two veterinarians has also been deployed at the zoo to monitor the health of wildlife. Regular blood tests are being carried out on carnivorous animals like tigers and leopards to immediately detect any sudden health issues they may face.

Additionally, disinfectants are being sprayed in the bird enclosures to prevent bird flu infection in them.
According to Deputy Director Swati and the Nainital Zoo administration, bird flu is a highly contagious disease that often spreads from avians to other animals. Negligence could result in a big threat to the lives of the animals in captivity. Owing to this, all possible precautions are being taken at the zoo.

“Currently, there are about five carnivores in Nainital Zoo whose diet is completely dependent on meat. These include tigers and leopards. Chicken has been replaced with mutton in them nutritional deficiencies. At the same time, ample amounts of fruits and other food materials for herbivores and birds have been made available at the Zoo,” Swati said.

She stressed that zoo administration has also made a public appeal to the people, activists, and environmentalists to remain alert and report immediately about suspicious or sick-looking birds seen by them, to the forest department and Zoo Authorities.