Kanpur zoo water samples test bird flu positive; seven more birds found dead

KANPUR: Eight water samples taken from water bodies inside the Kanpur zoo were found to be containing avian influenza or bird flu virus, said the report of the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal, where all the samples were tested as one.

The institute, which had on January 9 confirmed that the samples taken from two of the 10 red jungle fowls found dead in Kanpur zoo earlier this month had tested positive for the bird flu, sent the report of the water sample testing to the authorities concerned on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, seven more birds, including five crows and two pigeons, were found dead in the zoo on Thursday. The deaths, which have alarmed the authorities, have been attributed to the consumption of contaminated water at the zoo.

Assistant director, Kanpur zoo, Arvind Kumar Singh said the water collected from different places was sent to Bhopal for testing after two crows were found dead— one near the tiger enclosure and other near the zoo hospital— on January 8. The report from Bhopal confirmed bird flu virus in water but not in the soil, he added.

The zoo administration initially had admitted the death of the fowls but did not disclose the deaths of two crows. Ever since the deaths of fowls and crow came to fore, the zoo spread in 76-hectare land was being sanitised and the forest area was being combed. Besides, the number of birds died around the zoo was sizeable, said officials privy to the issue.

Moreover, a team led by chief veterinary officer, Kanpur, Dr RP Mishra visited the Kanpur zoo and held meetings with officials apart from examining the entire area and animals on Thursday.

Dr Mishra said his team was looking into the deaths and helping the zoo with sanitisation.

The artificial lake inside the zoo that spreads in 18-hectare land attracts thousands of migratory birds during the winter season. Apart from the lake, the zoo has eight small and big ponds.

The source of the water to the zoo is Ganga barrage and rain. It is believed the virus arrived with the migratory birds.

However, zoo officials are not forthcoming about whether there has been death of any migratory birds or if they had sent any samples of them for testing.