Zoo authority of India issues alert to zoos across the country, vigilance has also been increased in National Park at Uttarakhand.
Mumbai: The Zoo Authority of India (ZAI) swung into action after a tigress in a US Zoo has been confirmed having Corona virus. The Zoo Authority of India (ZAI) has alerted to zoos across the country to take safety and precautionary measures against Corona virus for the wild animals in the Zoos. The vigilance department of Jim Corbett National Park in Dehradun has already increased its vigil. Two isolation animal pounds (wards) have been also built in Jim Corbett for tigers.
The authorities have started sanitizing food and water of animals along with the Zoo campus area. At the same time, two isolation animal pounds have been made in Bijrani and Kalagarh area of Jim Corbett National Park. The administration has also built five quarantine centers also.
Zoo campus with three tier sanitization :
The authorities in Jim Corbett National Park, have set up a three-layered system for breaking the Corona virus spread. The employees have been instructed to take special care of personal cleanliness.
At the entry gate the employees and new entrants are first sanitized. Apart from this, entry is being given only after sanitizing the vehicle carrying food for the animals. After this, the meat and green fodder are separately sanitized. At the same time, before feeding the wild animals, it is washed and dried with potassium permanganate.
Rescued wild animals won’t be kept in Zoo:
The authorities have asked to, check for any COVID-19 symptoms among animals, and reduce human interaction with them. During the pandemic crisis no animal rescued will be brought to the Zoo during the lockdown.
Isolation Center built in Jim Corbett National Park
The Union government has asked the Chief Wildlife Wardens (CWWs) of all states to be on high alert, after a four-year-old Malayan tiger at Bronx zoo in New York, United States was found to have the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on April 5, 2020.
Meanwhile, two isolation wards have been made in Bijrani and Kalagarh in Jim Corbett National Park. The administration has also built five quarantine centers.- By Santoshee Gulabkali Mishra
