The century-old Mysuru zoo is all set for reopening in a couple of days with the second set of samples examined at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal testing negative for avian influenza (H5N8).
With this, the stage is set for the reopening of the zoo with the management fulfilling the conditions — two consecutive sets of samples of bird droppings testing negative.
Based on the two sets of lab reports, the director, Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Karnataka, will certify that the zoo is free of avian influenza. Also, a formal order, based on the director’s certificate, from the Secretary, Department of Forests, will eventually open the prominent tourist destination for tourists after a month-long closure following the H5N8 outbreak.
When contacted, zoo executive director Kamala Karikalan told The Hindu that she received the report from Bhopal around 7 p.m. on Monday. “This was the news we wanted to hear. The zoo is now set for reopening with final clearance from the department remaining.”
The first set of samples had tested negative and the report was received by the zoo a few days ago.
The Bhopal lab had sent the reports to the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, which forwarded it to the State Animal Husbandry Department director.
Experts had suggested that the zoo could be reopened only after the two sets of samples (collected within a month) tested negative. The second set was sent a few days ago and the zoo had expected the results by February 2.
Even the samples of water and waste collected from pond number 3, where all the H5N8-infected migratory birds were found dead, tested negative for H5N8.
This is perhaps the first time in the history of the zoo that it has remained out of bounds for tourists for about a month. A spot-billed pelican and three greylag geese died in the zoo on December 28. Another spot-billed pelican and a greylag goose died in the same pond on December 30. The National Institute of High Security and Animal Diseases then confirmed avian influenza as the cause of the birds’ death.
