Chennai, Oct 22:
Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur will remain closed to visitors on October 22 and 23 after the H5N1 bird flu virus was confirmed in water birds at the zoo.
The infection was confirmed on Wednesday by the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, following tests on samples collected from dead birds.
Seven water birds died between October 3 and 9. They included four painted storks, a grey pelican, a grey heron and a darter. The deaths were reported in the zoo’s Vedanthangal bird enclosure, which houses around 150 birds belonging to 10 species.
Zoo authorities said no further bird deaths or signs of illness had been reported since October 9. Disinfection measures were initiated after the deaths, and the affected enclosure was cleaned and its water disinfected and replaced. Preventive medicines were also administered to the water birds.
The temporary closure has been ordered to facilitate intensive sanitisation, strengthen biosecurity measures and enable officials to closely monitor the health of the birds. The zoo administration has urged the public to cooperate with the restrictions.