Patna zoo likely to reopen soon
Faryal Rumi | TNN | Feb 8, 2019, 00:25 IST
Sanjay Gandhi Biological ParkPATNA: If everything goes well, the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, popularly known as Patna zoo, may reopen soon.
All 19 samples of swabs, droppings, feathers, soil and water, which were collected from the zoo, have been tested negative for H5N1 virus. The third report of the samples was received by the Patna zoo officials and the state environment department on Thursday.
The samples of live birds, soil and water were sent to Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) on January 31.
Animal husbandry director Vinod Singh Gunjiyal said a meeting would be held on Friday to discuss the three consecutive negative reports of avian influenza which the Patna zoo received from NIHSAD on January 8, January 22 and February 7, respectively. “A decision regarding whether to issue the no-objection certificate to the zoo or not would also be taken at the meeting,” Gunjiyal told this newspaper.
The technical team comprising veterinary doctors of Bihar Animal Sciences University and Institute of Animal Health and Production (IAHP), Patna, will submit the latest report to state animal husbandry and fisheries department (AHFD) on February 8 to get the no-objection certificate to reopen the zoo.
According to Gunjiyal, the zoo has followed the standard protocol of the central government. “The last two reports of the samples were negative after the death of a peafowl and a khalij pheasant on December 29 last year at the zoo. As per the protocol, if the two consecutive samples are found negative, the authorities can consider reopening the zoo,” he said.
Devendra K Shukla, principal chief conservator of forest, said as soon as the no-objection certificate is issued by the AHFD, the Patna zoo will reopen for visitors.
Patna zoo director Amit Kumar said the medical committee would send the next birds’ samples to the Bhopal lab on February 15 and the disinfection work on zoo premises will continue.
The Patna zoo has been shut since December 25 last year after the doctors of NIHSAD and Regional Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL), Kolkata confirmed avian influenza (H5N1) virus in dead birds. Altogether seven peafowls and a pheasant died at the zoo between December 16 and December 29 last year.
All 19 samples of swabs, droppings, feathers, soil and water, which were collected from the zoo, have been tested negative for H5N1 virus. The third report of the samples was received by the Patna zoo officials and the state environment department on Thursday.
The samples of live birds, soil and water were sent to Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) on January 31.
Animal husbandry director Vinod Singh Gunjiyal said a meeting would be held on Friday to discuss the three consecutive negative reports of avian influenza which the Patna zoo received from NIHSAD on January 8, January 22 and February 7, respectively. “A decision regarding whether to issue the no-objection certificate to the zoo or not would also be taken at the meeting,” Gunjiyal told this newspaper.
The technical team comprising veterinary doctors of Bihar Animal Sciences University and Institute of Animal Health and Production (IAHP), Patna, will submit the latest report to state animal husbandry and fisheries department (AHFD) on February 8 to get the no-objection certificate to reopen the zoo.
According to Gunjiyal, the zoo has followed the standard protocol of the central government. “The last two reports of the samples were negative after the death of a peafowl and a khalij pheasant on December 29 last year at the zoo. As per the protocol, if the two consecutive samples are found negative, the authorities can consider reopening the zoo,” he said.
Devendra K Shukla, principal chief conservator of forest, said as soon as the no-objection certificate is issued by the AHFD, the Patna zoo will reopen for visitors.
Patna zoo director Amit Kumar said the medical committee would send the next birds’ samples to the Bhopal lab on February 15 and the disinfection work on zoo premises will continue.
The Patna zoo has been shut since December 25 last year after the doctors of NIHSAD and Regional Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL), Kolkata confirmed avian influenza (H5N1) virus in dead birds. Altogether seven peafowls and a pheasant died at the zoo between December 16 and December 29 last year.
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