Lucknow Zoo Shuts Bird Enclosures After Bird Flu Scare in Kanpur

The Lucknow Zoo, known as the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden, has shut down all bird enclosures following confirmation of bird flu in samples collected from the Kanpur zoo.

“We are ensuring preventive measures and keeping a close watch on the birds kept in the bird enclosure. No case (of bird flu) has been reported here, yet we are taking all the preventive measures. The virus spreads from the excreta of migratory birds and our efforts are to ensure that it does not come here,” Lucknow Zoo Director R.K. Singh said.

Bottles containing a solution of potassium permanganate have been kept at the gates of the zoo so that the visitors enter the premises disinfected, he said.

“We are also maintaining a watch on the birds’ enclosure. If any unusual behaviour is seen in any bird, it will be taken to the isolation ward,” Singh said.

Meanwhile, in Bareilly, arrangements to provide drinking water to migratory birds have been shut and reflectors are being installed at the Central Avian Research Institute (CARI).

“In order to ensure that migratory birds do not enter the CARI campus through the aerial route, reflectors are being installed on a war footing. The lower branches of the trees on the roadside have been cut, so that the birds do not drop their excreta on the road,” said Sanjeev Kumar, acting director of the institute.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also directed officials to remain alert in view of the bird-flu cases reported from various parts of the country.

He asked the officials to relieve the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly of all responsibilities relating to Covid so that it can concentrate on bird flu and its testing, an official release said.

The Chief Minister pointed out that every year in winter, migratory birds arrive in large numbers in Prayagraj where the Magh Mela is also being organised.

He has directed the Mela authorities to make people aware of the situation and ask the pilgrims not to feed the birds.

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