Nagpur’s Maharajbagh Zoo has temporarily stopped feeding chicken to its wild animals after three tigers and a leopard at the city’s Gorewada Rescue Centre succumbed to avian influenza. Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik revealed that the big cats might have contracted the virus through contaminated poultry, though confirmation awaits lab test results.
Chief Health Officer Sunil Baviskar clarified that while tigers at Maharajbagh Zoo are not fed chicken, leopards and other carnivores occasionally receive poultry meals as part of their diet. However, no signs of infection have been observed among the zoo’s animals. As a precaution, the zoo has halted chicken supply and intensified disinfection measures, conducted every two days.
Precautionary Measures Across Facilities
The Gorewada Rescue Centre, where the big cats died, has been temporarily shut down. These animals were relocated from Chandrapur following man-animal conflict incidents. Samples tested at Bhopal confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus on January 2. Union government guidelines have prompted zoos across India to implement precautionary measures to prevent further outbreaks.
Siddharth Zoo in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has also adopted new protocols, including treating animal food with boiled water and maintaining a cold chain mechanism. “These measures were introduced after the deaths in Nagpur to safeguard our tigers and leopards,” said Siddharth Zoo veterinarian Dr. Neeti Singh.
Avian Influenza Threat and Response
Avian influenza, primarily affecting birds, can occasionally impact mammals through consumption of infected poultry. The Maharajbagh Zoo’s proactive steps aim to minimise risks, ensuring the safety of its animal population while investigations into the deaths continue.
