Alert in Maha as four big cats die of bird flu at rescue centre

The remaining 12 tigers and 24 leopards at the centre are safe SHATANIK BHAGWAT, Zoo director

- Pradip Kumar Maitra and Gayatri Vajpeyee

NAGPUR/PUNE: Three tigers and a leopard succumbed to avian influenza H5N1 virus at the Gorewada Wildlife Rescue Centre, Nagpur, in December, officials said on Sunday and added that heightened biosecurity measures are now in place across Maharashtra's wildlife facilities.

The tigers, aged between three and four years, and a subadult leopard died between December 20 and 23.

The big cats had been brought to the rescue centre from Chandrapur district following human-wildlife conflict incidents. The leopard had been at the centre since March 2023 after its rescue from Buldhana district.

Within days of the tigers' arrival, the animals began showing severe symptoms.

"The animals displayed signs including limping, diarrhoea, vomiting, watery eyes, chest infection, and fever," said Shatanik Bhagwat, Zoo director. "The remaining 12 tigers and 24 leopards at the centre are safe."