Zoo Inmates in Guwahati Under Canine Distemper Attack

* Eight jackals,

* vulture die; vaccination begins

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Aug 21: Various species in the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden in Guwahati have come under canine distemper attack, leading to the death of as many as eight jackals and one Himayan vulture. Canine distemper is a viral disease that affects a wide variety of animal families.

State Zoo officials have also confirmed the death of a number of individual animals in the outbreak of canine distemper. According to zoo officials, as many as eight jackals, including a male, have died in the zoo so far. They, however, claim that the Himalayan vulture has died of old age.

On the preventive measures taken up so far, sources in the Zoo have said that all adult animals; including jackals, tigers, lions, hyena etc that come under canine distemper attack have been quarantined. “We’ve already procured vaccines from the USA to fight the spread of the viral disease among other animals in the zoo. The vaccination drive has been started from 6 am on Tuesday,” an official of the State Zoo said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal took stock of the ground situation in the Assam State Zoo on Tuesday and held discussion with the veterinarians, zoologists, senior officers and zoo authorities.

On being informed of the possibility of canine virus as the root-cause for the spread of the disease known as ‘Canine Distemper’, Sonowal directed the zoo authority to vaccinate all the animals of the State Zoo as a preventive step to bail the zoo out of the problem. Though he was informed that periodic vaccinations are being given to the inmates of the State Zoo, Sonowal directed the zoo authorities to strictly adhere to the regime of all essential vaccines to empower the animals to acquire immunity against fatal diseases.

Sonowal also took stock of all the species of animals in the zoo and emphasized the steps taken by the zoo authority for their reproduction. He also asked them to adhere to the specified standard for drinking water and water for bathing. He also told them that appropriate steps would be taken to set up a laboratory on the zoo premises to analyse the qualitative standard of water in Assam State Zoo.

The Chief Minister asked the zoo authority for starting an academic centre for students on the premises of State Zoo which will cater to the zoological and botanical aspects of academic requirements of the students. He also said that his government is considering the setting up of a research centre to study the behavioural aspects of animals and accordingly chart out their food habits, suitable habitats suitable mating period etc.