Kolkata: All the zoos across the state including Alipore Zoological Garden will remain closed from March 17 to March 31, in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak.
A review meeting will be conducted by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on March 30, after which the date of reopening of zoos will be decided. This was announced by state Forest minister Rajib Banerjee on Monday.
"All the 12 zoos across the state including Alipore Zoological Gardens and Bengal Safari will remain closed from tomorrow (Tuesday – March 17, 2020). We have received an advisory from the Central Zoo Authority of India. We are strictly following the advisory. We have conducted a meeting with the forest officials in the morning. We have taken the decision that the life of people should be saved first. In zoos, there is a huge gathering of people and they come in close proximity, which increases the possibility of Coronavirus," said Banerjee on the sidelines of Wildlife Award Ceremony 2019-20 held at Eden Gardens Park.
Minister of state for Forest department Sujit Bose was also present on the occasion. Banerjee and Bose released the Annual Administrative Report 2017-18 of state Forest department, a website named sundarbansjfmc and five Airabat vehicles to tackle elephants in forest areas.
"We are cautious about the animals in the zoo. In a bid to avoid any possibility of Coronavirus or swine flu, we have stopped giving chicken to the animals at present," pointed out Banerjee.
Apart from the Alipore Zoological Garden and Bengali Safari park, the zoos in the closure list are Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Junglemahal Zoological Park, Sundarban Wild Animals
Park, Bardhaman Zoological Park, Rasikbeel Mini Zoo, Surulia Mini Zoo, Garchumuk Deer Park, Adina Deer
Park, South Khairbari Rehabilitation Centre and Harinalaya Deer Park.