Maharajbagh, Gorewada take steps to protect animals, handlers

Vijay Pinjarkar | TNN | Updated: Apr 8, 2020, 10:53 IST

Maharajbagh Zoo staff sprays disinfectant in the premises on Tuesday

NAGPUR: After a 4-year-old tigress in Bronx Zoo in the US was tested positive for coronavirus, the Maharashtra Zoo Authority (MZA) has directed all 13 zoos and animal shelters in the state to take up health screening of keepers and animal handlers on top priority.
MZA has geared up to ensure these zoos and shelters follow all guidelines issued by the Central Zoo Authority. On Tuesday, Ravikiran Govekar, MZA member-secretary, inspected Maharajbagh Zoo. There are 36 tigers, five lions and 88 leopards in captivity in Maharashtra.
“Though the situation in state zoos is better, in view of CZA directions, we have asked all of them be sanitized and disinfected and see animal keepers tested for Covid-19. In Bronx Zoo, coronavirus was transmitted to tiger through humans,” said Govekar.
Maharajbagh officer in-charge Dr SS Bawaskar said, “We disinfected the zoo by using kohrsolin chemical during the lockdown period. Zoo keepers are taking foot bath of potassium permanganate before entering the cages and staff has been given sanitizers and masks. No tests of staff have been done and we also don’t have PPEs.”
Nandkishore Kale, divisional manager of Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) monitoring Gorewada Rescue Centre, said, “We don’t have PPEs but will consider procuring them. We are not allowing anyone except the handlers near the cages. Animals are released in crawl area only after it is disinfected.”
MAFSU’s Wildlife Research & Training Centre (WRTC) director Dr Shirish Upadhye said, “A five-pronged strategy is being implemented in Gorewada. As coronavirus can transmit from humans to animals or vice-versa, too much human presence and outside vehicles’ entry is prohibited.”
“Animal feed is checked at the main gates. Besides, no doctors, guards and keepers are allowed inside without masks and sanitizers. Teams of labourers have been allotted quarters who share them on rotation basis. As of now there are no issues with workers or animals,” he said.
Veterinary doctors have been told to keep a watch on animals at least twice a day. Guards have been told to monitor animal behaviour from 5-10 metres every two hours.
ICAR SOPs has asked all the zoological parks to provide dungaree, gumboots, and facemasks to zoo keepers and labourers involved in animal care. It has also said that any vehicle passing through the main entry gate should pass through tyre bath with 0.5% of sodium hypochlorite or on strip of dry slaked lime.