Shut Down After Avian Flu Scare, Delhi Zoo Reopens After 84 Days

The zoo was temporarily shut down following the death of some birds due to avian flu.

Zoo authorities have said that they will take necessary precautions and proper care. (Photo: iStock)

84 Days after Delhi Zoo was shut down, it finally reopened for visitors on Wednesday.

The zoo had been closed to visitors since 19 October 2016 following the death of several birds due to the H5N8 avian influenza virus.

Also Read: Delhi Zoo Shut After Ducks Die of Bird Flu

Other parks, including Hauz Khas Deer Park, the district park in Paschim Vihar, and a water body in Madipur which were also closed on account of the bird flu outbreak, will reopen today along with the zoo.

Zoo authorities have said that they will take all the necessary precautions and proper care, especially in bird enclosures, such as spraying disinfectants and lime powder.

The Delhi government asked the Union government for its permission to reopen the parks and the zoo.

The particular strain of avian influenza infecting and killing birds was found to be the rare H5N8, which is not known to harm humans, unlike the H5N1 flu.

We wrote to the Centre last week to reopen the parks, lakes and the zoo. The Union Environment Ministry cited the precautionary ‘90-day protocol’ prescribed in cases of the H5N1 flu because we do not have a specified protocol to follow in cases of the H5N8 flu.

Gopal Rai, Development Minister

(Source: The Times Of India and The Indian Express)