In a first-of-its-kind incident in India, Mumbai’s zoos and wildlife centres have introduced rigorous safety measures following the tragic deaths of three tigers and a leopard from H5N1 avian influenza, at Nagpur’s Gorewada Rescue Centre. This outbreak, which marks the first avian flu fatalities among captive wildlife in the country, has led to a state-wide alert in Maharashtra.
In response, prominent zoos and rescue centres like Byculla Zoo and SGNP Zoo Safari in Mumbai have ramped up biosecurity protocols. Daily health checks are being conducted on all animals, with chicken removed from carnivores’ diets, replaced by buffalo meat from trusted sources. Enclosures are being thoroughly disinfected, and human-animal interactions are being minimised.
Wildlife rescue organisations, such as RAWW and WWA, are also on high alert, enhancing food monitoring and implementing quarantine measures. This rare outbreak underscores the critical need for strict biosecurity and early detection to safeguard both wildlife and public health.
