Herbivore section of Gadag zoo locked down after death of nilgai due to bacterial infection

GADAG: The Binkadakatti Zoo here has locked down and quarantined its herbivore section after a 3.5-year-old male Nilgai died from Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS), a highly contagious and deadly disease.

Seven Nilgai, including the dead one, had shown symptoms of the disease, prompting the authorities to take swift action. The zoo’s herbivore section, which houses 47 Nilgai, 90 blackbucks, 60 spotted deer and seven wild boars, has been sealed off, and a green screen has been put up around the enclosures to prevent the spread of the disease.

The authorities are taking precautions, including spraying disinfectants, using PPE kits, and deploying four animal keepers to monitor the animals around the clock. The section will remain closed to visitors for 21 days, while the rest of the zoo remains open.

Haemorrhagic Septicaemia is a bacterial disease that affects herbivores, causing severe symptoms and often death. The disease has previously affected zoos in Belagavi and Davangere, resulting in the death of several animals. The zoo authorities are working to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread of the disease.