Patna zoo reopens today after bird flu scare

Patna: The Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park (Patna zoo) will reopen on Sunday, a week after it was shut as a precautionary measure following confirmation of avian influenza (H5N1) in poultry samples collected near the zoo, officials said.The closure was ordered on Feb 27 after the district animal husbandry officer confirmed the H5N1 strain in poultry at the Poultry Research and Training Centre, Kaushal Nagar, Chitkohra, under Bihar Animal Sciences University.Since parts of the biological park fall within a 1km radius of the epicentre, authorities invoked the Govt of India’s action plan for prevention, control and containment of avian influenza (revised-2021) to immediately shut the facility to visitors for a week.The decision was taken to ensure the safety of wildlife, staff, and the public as part of the outbreak response, which also included culling of affected poultry and intensified surveillance in infected and surrounding zones.“Subsequent surveillance in the infected zone over the past week yielded no further confirmations of avian influenza. This clear surveillance result paved the way for reopening,” the zoo authorities said in a statement issued on Saturday.In an official update, park authorities announced that the zoo will welcome tourists again from Sunday. To maintain safety, all precautionary measures, disinfection protocols, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) prescribed by the govt will remain in place.Zoo director Hemant Patil said visitors are advised to follow on-site guidelines for a safe and enjoyable experience. The management emphasised that these steps prioritise both human and animal health following the brief but proactive closure.