PANAJI
The Forest Department is yet to take a call on the re-opening of the State’s only zoo, Bondla, which has been closed to visitors following the death of a few animals due to avian influenza H5N1.
The zoo has been closed to the public since April 1 following the death of five animals “ three civet cats and two jungle cats. Since then, the other animals have been placed under quarantine for a period of 15 days.
Despite repeated attempts, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Kamal Datta remained unavailable for comment. However, a senior official said that the samples have been sent to the Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases for re-testing, and two consecutive negative test results are required for the zoo to re-open.
Officials said that the department is following the standard operating procedure laid down by the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying with regard to the H5N1 outbreak.
“We cannot open the zoo unless the test results are negative. We need to have two negative test results to open the zoo,” the official said.
According to media reports, H5N1 in two jungle cats was confirmed by the Goa Forest Department; however, the reason for the deaths of the three civet cats is still unknown.
