This story is from January 22, 2021

Gujarat: Zoos chicken out over bird flu scare

Gujarat: Zoos chicken out over bird flu scare
Chicken and eggs have disappeared from the menu of zoos across Gujarat.
AHMEDABAD: As Gujarat remains on high alert for bird flu, chicken and eggs have disappeared from the menu of zoos across Gujarat. While the Sakkarbaug zoo in Junagadh has stopped feeding chicken to its carnivorous inmates, zoos in Ahmedabad and Rajkot have started using their own stock and stopped getting chicken from outside.
Sakkarbaug zoo director Abhishek Kumar said, "Consumption of poultry meat has been reduced to essential requirements only.
The zoo has gradually substituted it with carabeef or other animal meat. Whenever poultry meat is fed, it is pre-boiled before offering to animals. Meat handlers and employees are properly kitted, and maintain strict hygiene and sanitation. We are observing how animals are accepting substitute meat, and are phasing out poultry requirements in zoo due to avian influenza."
Zoo officials said chicken was fed to cubs and young carnivorous animals. "They do not accept medicines in carabeef, so we used to give it mixed with chicken," they said.
Dr R K Sahu, director of Kamala Nehru Zoological Garden, said, "When reports of bird flu spread, we began stocking up chicken. We have enough to last us 15 days. We are also breeding chicks and chicken from the stock available. The snakes in the zoo are to be fed chicks bred in zoo."
Sahu said the zoo has replace chicken with carabeef. "We have cut down on usage of chicken which was nearly 5 kg. Even if we have to feed chicken, it is properly boiled before being given to the animals."
Rajesh Patel, superintendent of Surat zoo, said that it has stopped using poultry. "We now give meat to animals. The zoo used chicken for medication but we have cut down on it. We have also stopped feeding eggs even though we used to boil it before giving it to the animals."
Rajkot zoo superintendent Dr R K Hirpara said, "We have stopped using chicken, which was minimal to begin with. We are feeding chicks that we bred on campus to snakes."
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About the Author
Himanshu Kaushik

Himanshu Kaushik is Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, Ahmedabad. He reports on Wildlife and state government. He takes special interest in reporting on wildlife, especially the lions of Gir. His likes listening to music.

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