Nagpur Zoo Temporarily Suspends Chicken Meals for Wild Animals Following Avian Influenza Deaths

Following the deaths of three tigers and a leopard at a wildlife rescue centre in Nagpur, authorities have halted the feeding of chicken to wild animals at Maharajbagh Zoo. This decision was made as a precautionary step, according to an official statement on Thursday. Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik mentioned that avian influenza might have caused these deaths after the animals consumed chicken.

The exact cause of death will be confirmed once lab test results are available. Minister Naik stated that zoo authorities have been instructed to inspect food before feeding it to animals. The affected wildlife rescue centre has been advised to close temporarily. Avian influenza, or bird flu, primarily impacts wild birds and poultry.

Precautionary Measures at Zoos

Maharajbagh Zoo's Chief Health Officer, Sunil Baviskar, explained that wild animals are fed according to their natural diets. While tigers at the zoo do not consume chicken, leopards and other animals that naturally eat birds are given poultry meals. Baviskar assured that no animals at Maharajbagh Zoo show signs of bird flu infection.

As a preventive measure, the zoo has stopped supplying chicken to its animals. Routine sanitisation and disinfection are conducted every two days to ensure safety. The three tigers and the leopard were relocated from Chandrapur to Gorewada Rescue Centre in Nagpur due to man-animal conflicts.

Testing and Advisory

The big cats died at the Gorewada Rescue Centre at the end of last month. Their samples were sent for testing in Bhopal, and on January 2, results confirmed they had contracted the H5N1 virus. Shatanik Bhagwat, Gorewada project divisional manager, shared this information on Monday.

The Union government has issued an advisory urging zoos to implement precautionary measures. Disinfection processes are being carried out following these guidelines. Authorities remain vigilant in ensuring the safety of both animals and staff within these facilities.