PIONEEREDGE NEWS SERVICE | Ramnagar
With bird flu detected in Kumaon, the Corbett administration has gone on high alert. Special precautions are being taken at the Dhela rescue centre which currently has 11 tigers and 13 leopards. Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) director Saket Badola informed that as a precautionary measure, entry of unnecessary staff into the rescue centre has been restricted. The enclosures are being regularly sanitised and staff members are permitted to enter the animal enclosures only while wearing PPE kits.
All range officers have been instructed that if any bird or wild animal is found dead in their area, it must be carefully brought to the rescue centre using protective gear. A team of wildlife veterinarians will then conduct a post-mortem to determine the exact cause of death. So far, no case of bird flu has been reported inside Corbett but officials emphasise that no negligence will be tolerated in ensuring the safety of wildlife.
Wildlife veterinarian Dr Dushyant Sharma stated that the big cats are not being fed chickens now. Instead, alternative meat is being provided. Their enclosures are also being disinfected and their behaviour is being monitored consistently, he said.
