The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Foot-and-mouth disease hits BBP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 28, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Foot-and-mouth disease hits BBP

Staff Reporter

Two mithuns and a blackbuck die; it is the first time the disease has been detected in the park

Precaution: Visitors to the Bannerghatta Biological Park in Bangalore being made to step on water containing disinfectants before entering inside.

BANGALORE: The Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) is facing an unprecedented crisis with the foot-and-mouth disease claiming the lives of two mithuns and a blackbuck. Moreover, in an unrelated incident, a six-year-old lion was found dead in its animal rescue centre on Saturday.

According to Assistant Veterinary Officer of the park, G.K. Vishwanath, the lion, which was born in the park, had been unwell for nearly three months and its carcass had been sent to the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals (IAHVB) “to know whether it died of cancer or tuberculosis”.

But the bigger worry is the foot-and-mouth disease which has hit the park for the first time. As a precautionary measure, the authorities have decided to close the herbivore safari to prevent the spread of the disease that is caused by an airborne virus.

The Jungle Lodges and Resorts’ Bannerghatta Nature Camp will close its operations from Monday, K.B. Markandaiah, executive director of the park said.

The blackbuck’s death on Saturday follows that of the mithun, a wild breed of cattle native to the North-East of the country.

Nine blackbucks and some spotted deer were in the enclosures adjacent to that of the mithuns.

Suspecting infection, the zoo authorities have shifted the remaining deer to the Bannerghatta Rescue Centre, which is run jointly by the Forest Department and Compassion Unlimited Plus Action.

“This is to prevent the spread of disease to other animals,” Mr. Markandaiah said.

On October 21, an eight-year-old mithun was found dead in its enclosure. Four days later, another one, a three-year-old, died. The IAHVB confirmed that they had died of the foot-and-mouth disease, whose incubation period is 15 days.

Steps taken

The park personnel have started spraying disinfectants around the enclosures. Vehicles have been banned inside the zoo and visitors on foot will have to step on water containing disinfectants before entering the zoo. Captive elephants in the zoo have been vaccinated, according to Dr. Vishwanath.

The zoo authorities have stopped procuring grass from outside. The animal keepers have been asked to change their dress before entering the zoo and the safari. “We are trying our best to prevent the outbreak of the virus in the safari and the forest,” Dr. Vishwanath added.

Mithun are susceptible to the foot-and-mouth disease which generally infects cattle. “Three months ago, some mithuns died in the Thiruvananthapuram zoo, forcing the authorities to close it for a month,” Dr. Vishwanath said. The virus is active during rains.

“Once there is sunshine it is deactivated.”

The Bannerghatta park authorities are mystified over the origin of the disease here. The Forest Department has asked the Animal Husbandry Department to vaccinate the cattle, which are found to be carriers of the disease.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) I.B. Srivastava said the Animal Husbandry Department would undertake vaccination in about 25 village surrounding the biological park and the Bannerghatta National Park. “Instructions have been given to forest guards and watchers to prevent grazing of cattle in the area,” he said.

Camp closed

Sources in the Bannerghatta Nature Camp operated by Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR) said that the 15 guests camping on the property will check out on Sunday morning.

The decision on its reopening will be taken after assessing the situation.

“Many individual and corporate groups that had booked accommodation in the nature camp have been requested to take back their money. It is not a panicky situation… only a precautionary measure, which has been appreciated by our guests,” sources said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section