The deaths of three tigers and a sub-adult leopard at the Gorewada Rescue Centre in Nagpur due to the highly deadly avian flu H5N1 virus, Maharashtra’s wildlife authorities have issued a red warning for the entire state.
The zoo authorities sent samples for examination after the deaths, which occurred on December 20 and 23, occurred. These animals were taken to the rescue center from the Chandrapur district after occurrences of human-wildlife conflict in December. Shortly after arriving, they showed signs of fever, watery eyes, diarrhea, vomiting, and limping.
The H5N1 virus was detected in the samples on January 3 by ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NISHAD), which was the first time that avian influenza had caused a major loss of captive animals in India.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying issued a red alert for zoos around Maharashtra in response to the alarming findings. Avian influenza, sometimes referred to as bird flu, is a highly contagious virus that mainly affects wild and poultry birds but can also infrequently spread to mammals.
The containment procedure has been intensified, according to the Gorewada Rescue Center administrators. In addition to disinfecting and treating the large animal cages with fire blowers, the facility has been closed to the public. Animal keepers are utilizing PPE kits, and staff and caregivers have been screened.
Rajkumar Jadhav, director of the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park and Wildlife Research Centre, said, “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been implementing all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases”.
A 2004 study published by the Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, suggests that H5N1 is more dangerous to felids (felines, animals from big and small cat families), including tigers, leopards, and domestic cats, than other flu viruses, posing a risk to endangered species.
