After the recent H5N1 avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak in Gorewada Rescue Centre (GRC), where one captive tiger and two leopards died due to the flu in Nagpur, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has issued circular to all zoos in the country to be prepared to prevent the flu and advised zoos to comply with the National Action Plan on ‘Prevention, Control and Containment of H5N1’. Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying informed this in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

 

He tabled this information in the Lok Sabha in response to the query regarding the measures taken by the Government to monitor and manage the health of captive animals in zoos. Singh informed that, CZA advised the zoos to consult Centre for Wildlife, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly for technical advice on wildlife management, disease control and diagnosis. Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India conducted a review meeting recently of all stakeholders, namely Government of Maharashtra, CZA, Wildlife Division of MOEFCC, Indian Council of Medical Research, National Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and officials of Gorewada Rescue Centre (GRC) and advised them to work in close collaboration following ‘One Health Approach’.

 

As per the information received by senior officials of GRC, a separate team from ICAR-NIHSAD, Bhopal and WRDDL Pune also conducted epidemiological investigations in and around the rescue centre and Chandrapur forest area. The tiger, which died in GRC, was brought from Chandrapur few days ago and within few days, it died and two captive leopards were also dead due to H5N1. Therefore, the investigation was needed in Chandrapur forest area where the tiger was captured by the Forest Department. As per the information received, 68 samples from the wild animals housed in GRC were screened by ICAR-NIHSAD, Bhopal and they tested negative, informed the Minister in the House.