Tigress Dies Of Bird Flu In UP, Govt Closes Zoos And Lion Safari For A Week
Bird Flu Scare In UP: Zoos have been shut for a week after a tigress at Gorakhpur Zoo died from bird flu. CM Yogi has ordered strict vigilance as officials implement measures to prevent spread.
Bird Flu in Uttar Pradesh: All zoological parks and the lion safari in Uttar Pradesh have been temporarily closed for a week after a tigress at the Gorakhpur Zoo, aka Shaheed Ashfaq Ullah Khan Zoological Garden, tested positive for bird flu. The infected tigress, Shakti, succumbed to the virus on May 7.
Anuradha Vemuri, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), confirmed the closure of zoos in Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, and the Etawah Lion Safari. "The highest protocol is in place," she was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
The confirmation came late on Monday from the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal. NIHSAD identified the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in lab tests on the deceased tigress. "Taking all necessary precautions, in compliance with the orders of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) for UP, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden, Lucknow, will remain completely closed to visitors from 14 May 2025 to 20 May 2025," said Director of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden, Lucknow, Aditi Sharma.
Lucknow, UP | This is to notify the general public that the sample of the tigress from Gorakhpur Zoo - Shaheed Ashfaq Ullah Khan Zoological Garden, that had passed away, was sent to ICAR- NIHSAD (National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases), Bhopal. As per the NIHSAD's… pic.twitter.com/wnSUbe416G
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 14, 2025
"The guidelines issued by the Central Zoo Authority, Government of India, will be followed till further orders. During this period, all the wild animals of the park will be monitored closely and provided with medical treatment if they display any symptoms," she said.
Shakti, a two-year-old tigress rescued from Mailani in Lakhimpur Kheri just a year ago, showed no sign of illness before her sudden death. The passing away of the tigress raised concerns about the potential spread of the virus among other animals, and possibly to humans.
CM Yogi Chairs High-Level Meeting
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath chaired a high-level meeting, directing officials to tighten biosecurity measures across all wildlife facilities in the state. "Maximum vigilance must be maintained at zoos, sanctuaries, national parks, wetlands, and cow shelters," the official statement from his office read.
The situation has also prompted tiger reserves across the state to remain on high alert. Forest staff have been ordered to monitor the behaviour of animals closely and immediately report any signs of illness or unexplained deaths.
At Gorakhpur Zoo, veterinary teams are leaving no stone unturned. Yogesh Singh, the zoo's veterinarian, said over 100 staff members who might have come into contact with the tigress have had blood samples collected for testing. "We're expecting their reports by Wednesday," he told HT, adding that the entire zoo has been thoroughly sanitised.
All Animals Healthy
All 300 animals at the zoo, as of Tuesday's check-up, remain healthy and symptom-free. Zoo officials have also been trained to identify early signs of avian influenza and other zoonotic diseases in the animals under their care.
In addition to the bird flu virus, lab tests also revealed the presence of a rare Vibrio bacterial infection in the tigress, the HT report further said. This bacterium can be transmitted through direct contact, commonly found in aquatic species like fish and seabirds.
This isn't the first time bird flu has struck big cats in India. Earlier this year, three tigers and a leopard at Nagpur's Gorewada Rescue Centre died from H5N1. In Madhya Pradesh, health officials detected bird flu in pet cats and a live bird at a local market, raising red flags about the virus's broader threat to animals that come into contact with infected poultry.
Experts say that big cats, including tigers, leopards, and even domestic cats, are especially vulnerable due to their carnivorous diet, which sometimes includes contaminated poultry meat or exposure to infected wild birds.
To prevent further outbreaks, the chief minister has instructed that all zoo campuses undergo regular sanitisation, blow-torching of enclosures, and routine health screenings of animals. Food sources for the animals will also face stricter inspections to avoid contamination.
Top Headlines
