Stating that the Wildlife wing of Haryana Forest department has taken all preventive measures to protect the animals from the deadly corona Virus by keeping a close watch on them, Alok Verma, PCCF and chief warden, Haryana said those staff involved in dealing with animals and birds in Zoos being kept on highest alert.
“Adequate measures such as entire Zoos being frequently sanitised, only essential staff allowed to work, strict social distancing, and keepers maintaining minimum contact with animals, among others are being taken to ensure the welfare of animals,” Verma said, adding that all arrangements have been made as per NTCA guidelines. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Central Zoo Authority had earlier issued directions regarding the same. In Haryana, there are four Zoos at Rohtak, Bhiwani, Hisar and Pipli (Kurukshetra) and Bird Sanctuaries in Bhindawas (Jhajjar), Sultanpur (Gurugram) and a National Park in Kalesar, Yamunanagar.
The Chief Warden said that elaborate measures have been taken to protect the health of captive animals and birds in Zoos in view of this epidemic. Additional bio-security measures, including daily health screening of staff, had been introduced, he said, adding the patrolling staffs have also been asked to keep an eye on any abnormal behaviour by the wildlife at their jurisdictional limit. In addition to this, instructions were given to minimise human-animal interactions, use of safety gear by the staff, isolation of sick animals and sending their samples for testing to three identified veterinary labs.
Yamuna Nagar DFO (Wildlife) Shiv Singh said that the staff have been asked to stay put at the posts and they are being supplied with essentials there to prevent the possibility of their getting infected with COVID-19 and then passing it on to the animals that they have to handle. Zoo keepers who handle them are also being subjected to regular thermal screening to check if they have any symptoms of corona, he said, adding that the food for captive animals is sanitised at the gates before being brought in to be served to them.
“Strict guidelines have been issued to the staff to inform the authorities if they spot the carcass of an animal within the reserve or at its peripheries. They have been asked to inform the senior officers if they see signs of illness in an animal,” he said. Singh said, “The instructions were issued to observe symptoms consistent with COVID-19, such as respiratory signs of nasal discharge, coughing and laboured breathing through direct observation in animals. In case of symptoms, the animals are to be isolated and samples to be collected and sent to the designated animal health institutes to initiate COVID-19 testing, while following all biocontainment and safety measures as per the national protocol.”
The National Institute of High Security Animal Disease (NIHSAD), Bhopal, the National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE), Hisar and the Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic (CADRAD), Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly are the designated animal health institutes named by the Central Zoo Authority for the purpose of conducting COVID-19 testing.
He said that all vehicles carrying food material are passed through a trough filled with anti-microbial solution in Zoos so that microbes attached to the tyres are removed. Instruction has been given to officials concerned to ensure availability of food and medicinal requirements of animals during lockdown. Singh said wild animals are having a gala time during the lockdown as they are getting bolder and becoming explorers as areas outside their habitat are becoming quiet.
"Wild-life is always happy when environment becomes quiet. They (wild animals) are roaming not only in their own areas but also outside in forest fringe areas," he said, adding that due to human activity and busy roads otherwise, they never used to venture out. Now, even spotted deer is trying to come out and "see what all is happening".
He further said that they (wild animals) are basically free-ranging animals; when they find that their surroundings have become quiet, they tend to come out and explore. When asked about a leopard attacking a labourer working in the fields and injured him near Pratap Nagar town of Yamunanagar district on April 15, Singh said that big cat might have gone there for hunting dogs when the incident occurred. In front of officials, leopard went to forest area on the same day.
Meanwhile, officials have been directed to keep a vigil so that wild animals such as leopard don’t enter the fields and human habitations. At the same time, as a part of precaution, harvesting should not be done till late evening in some areas, he advised.
When asked about illegal wildlife trade on the rise amid the nationwide lockdown, he said that there is no such report so far. "Patrolling has been intensified and officers are put on alert. They have been strictly directed to protect exotic birds and save them from being traded," Singh said. The Department has taken measures, including stepping up night patrolling, to curb such activities, he added.
He further said that all precautions had been taken to deal with forest fires. "Round-the-clock monitoring is being undertaken to ensure timely action in cases of detection of forest fires", Singh added.
