CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, April 15: The officials of Birsa Biological Park, Ormanjhi have planned to introduce Canine Distemper vaccines in its immunisation programmes for jackals, wolves and hyenas. The decision has been taken after seven foxes died in the last one month due to the canine distemper virus (CDV).
Foxes come under endangered species and are protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Jabbar Singh, the director of Birsa Biological Park had earlier informed that the first fox death was reported in the first week of March. Therefore, one by one all the foxes died within a month. However, most of them were aged.
He added that the samples of the dead foxes were sent for histopathological tests to Rae Bareilly. The test results will make it clear if they were infected with the distemper virus or not.
The veterinarian at the Birsa Biological Park has informed that the virus is highly contagious and it spreads through the air from an infected dog or a wild animal. The foxes did show symptoms of CDV which are pneumonia, loss of appetite and breathing issues.
The other animals at the zoo have not yet shown any symptoms of CDV and proper sanitation and cleaning are done regularly.
