Lok Sabha Question No. 1190 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-11
Subject: H5N1 Avian Influenza in Wildlife
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Ms Sayani Ghosh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO.1190 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## H5N1 AVIAN INFLUENZA IN WILDLIFE

1190. Ms Sayani Ghosh:

## Will the Minister of FISHERIES ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to State:

- (a) The measures taken by the Government to monitor and manage the health of captive animals  in  zoos  following  the  detection  of  H5N1  avian  influenza  in  wildlife  at  the Nagpur rescue center;
- (b) Whether there are any cases of avian flu in other wildlife sanctuaries, rescue centers, or zoos in the country, if so, the details thereof, and
- (c) Whether any  additional  resources  or  teams  has  been  allocated  to  zoos  and  wildlife centers  to  ensure  early  detection  and  containment  of  avian  flu,  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE HON'BLE MINISTER FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

- (a) Following are the measures taken by the Central Government:
1. Central Zoo Authority (CZA), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has issued circular to all Zoos regarding their preparedness to prevent ingress of Avian Influenza and  advised zoos to comply with the National Action Plan on 'Prevention, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza'.
2. CZA  advisedthe  Zoos  to  consult  Centre  for  Wildlife,  ICAR-Indian  Veterinary Research  Institute,  Bareilly  for  technical  advise  on  Wildlife  management,  disease control and diagnosis.
3. Department of Animal Husbandry& Dairying (DAHD), GoI has issued an advisory to the state for isolation of  animals showing  any  clinical signs, closure of the establishment  to  the  public  including  isolation  and  restriction  of  movement  of  zoo workers and use of Personal protective equipment (PPE), isolation of animal handlers, strengthening of biosecurity measures.
4. States  have  been  requested  for  surveillance  of  Tigers,  Leopards  and  other  wild animals and birds present in the Zoo and reporting of unusual mortality
5. The  State  has  been  requested  to  follow  the  DAHD  National  Action  Plan  for Prevention  Control  and  Containment  of Avian  Influenza  2021  especially  Chapter  6 which has action points to deal with outbreaks of avian influenza in Zoos.
6. The  National  Joint  Outbreak  Response  Team  (NJORT)  involving  members  from NCDC, ICMR, Wildlife and DAHD was alsodeputed to conduct thejoint investigation and suggestion for future preparedness.
7. Department  of Animal  Husbandry  &  Dairying,  GoIconducted  a  review  meeting  on 7.1.2025 of all the stakeholders like Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Maharashtra, Central Zoo Authority, Wildlife Division-MOEFCC, Indian Council of  Medical  research,  National  Centre  for  Disease  Control,  Ministry  of  Health  and Family  Welfare,  officials  of  Gorewada  Zoo  and  ICAR-National  Institute  of  High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD)- Bhopal and advised all stakeholders to work in close collaboration following One Health Approach.
8. A  separate  team  from  ICAR-NIHSAD,  Bhopal  and  WRDDL  Pune  also  conducted epidemiological investigations in and around the rescue centre and Chandrapur Forest area.
9. 68 samples from the wild animals housed in the rescued centre of Gorewada Zoo were screened and they are tested negative by ICAR-NIHSAD, Bhopal as on 10.1.2025.
- (b) No  such  report  is  received  from  the  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate Change
- (c) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change informed that the management of  recognised  Zoos  were  advised  to  allot  required  resources  or  teams  as  per  the National Action Plan on 'Prevention, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza' and  its  addendum  specific  to  Zoos  for  early  detection  and  containment  of  Avian Influenza.