Kathmandu: The Central Zoo in Jawalakhel has announced a two-week mandatory closure on Friday after laboratory results confirmed the presence of bird flu in dead crows and pigeons found on the premises.
Rachana Shah, spokesperson at the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), said, “After seeing dead crows and pigeons in the zoo premises, we collected samples from dead crows and pigeons suspecting bird flu and sent them to the Department of Livestock Services for testing. We received the laboratory report yesterday,” said.
She said that bird flu was confirmed and following official protocols and veterinary instructions, the zoo has been closed for a mandatory two-week period after the virus was detected in dead wild crows and pigeons found on the grounds.
“We have now put strict biosecurity measures in place,” she said, adding that these precautions include the use of lime and Virkon, sanitization, foot dips in holding areas, and the use of disposable footwear for staff to prevent the virus from spreading to the resident animals in the zoo.
“The virus was detected in samples collected from wild crows and pigeons that had died on the premises. These were not birds from our collection. Wild birds regularly enter the area from outside, and the infected birds were among them.”“After receiving the report, we held a meeting with officials from the Department of Livestock Services. Based on their instructions and the established protocol, we decided to close the facility from today,” Shah said.
“We are taking all recommended precautions, including disinfecting the area with lime and other disinfectants, strengthening biosecurity, sanitising staff before they enter animal enclosures, using foot dips at every holding area, and requiring disposable footwear, which is discarded after use to prevent contamination.”
She said the Department of Livestock Services had assured staff there was no need to panic. Shah acknowledged that the temporary closure would affect NTNC financially.
“Ticket sales are our main source of income, so closing the facility for two weeks will definitely affect our revenue.”An internal three-member investigation committee led by Shah was also formed on Friday and the committee will present the report within a week, she said.
Asked whether disciplinary action would follow, Shah said the committee’s findings would be used to improve procedures rather than punish individuals.
