Jim Corbett builds Covid isolation wards for animals

New Delhi, April 12

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The reports of a Malayan tiger being tested positive for Covid-19 in the US has caught the attention of the Indian authorities. India’s oldest National Park Jim Corbett, situated in Uttarakhand’s Paurhi Garhwal region, has built isolation wards for animals.

Jim Corbett National Park Warden RK Tiwari said: “At least 10 quarantine centres are being prepared within the premises to contain animals. We are also holding talks on converting the cages built for wild animals into a quarantine facility.”

The authorities have intensified video surveillance of animals. “Any animal with symptoms will be quarantined, the cameras installed in the vicinity of the national park will record the cold and cough symptoms of animals,” he said. Jim Corbett’s Wildlife Medical Officer, Dr Dushyant has however stated that there is less risk of animals, especially tigers, getting infected in forest areas. “However, if the animals which live near the human population come into contact with an infected person or thing, then they might get infected too,” he said.

To prevent the spread of Covid to tigers, the National Tiger Conservation Authority has issued a direction that all workers coming in contact with tigers and elephants should be tested for the virus. — IANS