Three tigers and a leopard at the Gorewada Rescue Centre in Nagpur, Maharashtra, died of avian influenza, possibly after consuming chicken, according to State Forest Minister Ganesh Naik. However, he clarified on Thursday that the exact cause is yet to be confirmed as the lab test report is still awaited.
The minister shared this information with reporters in Nagpur before heading to Chandrapur. He stated that zoo authorities have been instructed to thoroughly inspect the food provided to animals. Additionally, the rescue centre involved in the incident has been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure.
The deceased big cats had been relocated to the Gorewada Rescue Centre from Chandrapur due to man-animal conflict incidents. They died at the centre in late December. Samples collected from the animals were sent to Bhopal for testing, and on January 2, the results confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus, Gorewada Project Divisional Manager Shatanik Bhagwat announced earlier this week.
Following the confirmation of the virus, the Centre issued an advisory instructing zoos to implement precautionary measures to prevent the spread of infection. Bhagwat also mentioned that disinfection processes are being carried out as per central and state government guidelines.
Minister Naik acknowledged the deaths of the tigers and leopard, stating, “While the preliminary information suggests they may have contracted the infection after eating chicken, this is yet to be confirmed.” He added that forest officials would provide a detailed briefing on the incident later in the day and that further details would emerge following a thorough investigation.
This incident has prompted authorities to reinforce biosecurity measures in zoos and rescue centres across the state to ensure the safety of animals and prevent similar outbreaks.