Zoos cautious after tiger in New York gets Covid-19
Telangana issues strict orders for regular health checks on wild animals in reserves, zoo park
The discovery of coronavirus in a Malayan tigress at New York’s Bronx Zoo on Monday sent officials at the Centre and the state scrambling to put in place a protocol to protect animals in zoos and big cats in tiger reserves.
In Telangana state, strict orders, accompanied by detailed guidelines, have been issued for regular health checks of tigers and other animals, including primates, in the Nehru Zoological Park, and for monitoring the health of wildlife in sanctuaries and two tiger reserves.
With the New York tigress’ case causing alarm, zoo officials have been instructed to monitor tigers and other big cats for abnormal signs including coughing, nasal discharges, respiratory distress and diarrhoea, which are visible symptoms of possible coronavirus infection. All big cats in the zoos should be provided with
We have twice a day animal health checks and all staff have masks, gloves and hand sanitizers. As of now all animal keepers in the zoo are in good health and everything is under control
— DR SIDHANAND KUKRETY
Director, TS zoo parks
multivitamins, especially vitamin C, among other supplements and treated for any visible respiratory ailments symptomatically.
The Indian Veterinary Research Institute said that if such symptoms are observed, senior authorities must be informed and samples need to be collected from big cats for testing.
Meanwhile, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Telangana state, R. Shobha issued a set of instructions to zoos in the state and ordered that no sick animal keeper, staffer or official be allowed anywhere near the animals in zoos and deer parks. All animals in zoos and deer parks must be kept under CCTV surveillance and animal keepers or handlers should not be allowed close to any animal displaying signs of sickness.
When isolating such an animal, handlers must wear personal protection equipment. “Fortnightly samples of suspect cases are to be sent to designated animal health institutes in the country to initiate Covid-19 tests,” she said.