Three tigers and a leopard at a rescue center in Nagpur have died from avian influenza, prompting the Union government to issue an alert for zoos nationwide. This marks a rare case of the highly contagious H5N1 virus affecting rescued wildlife in India. In response, the Central Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has issued an advisory, urging zoos to follow the action plan for prevention, control, and containment of the virus.
The January 3 advisory issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, under the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, emphasized that avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease with zoonotic implications. It advised all zoos to stay alert and vigilant for any symptoms in captive animals and to monitor for any incidents of the disease in nearby areas.
The animals, which had been relocated to the Gorewada Rescue Centre in Nagpur from Chandrapur in December due to conflicts with humans, began showing signs of illness within a week of their arrival. Despite veterinary care, the animals were found dead on December 30, according to officials. Nasal, pharyngeal, and rectal swabs were collected and sent to the ICAR-National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NISHAD) in Bhopal on the same day. The institute confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus on January 1.