Reduce human-wildlife interface, Centre tells states after New York tiger turns positive

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 6

The Government has issued an advisory to all states, asking them to reduce human-wildlife interface and restrict the movement of people to national parks/sanctuaries/tiger reserves in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak.

Earlier, the Central Zoo Authority had issued precautionary measures to be taken by zoos across the country, in the wake of the confirmation of Covid-19 in a tiger housed in the Bronx Zoo, New York.

In view of the spread of Covid-19 in the country and a recent news report on a tiger being infected, it is felt that there are possibilities of spread of the virus amongst animals in national parks/sanctuaries/tiger reserves and also transmission of the virus from humans to animals and vice-versa, says the Ministry of Environment and Forests advisory.

Asking them to take immediate preventive measures to stop the transmission and spread of the virus from humans to animals and vice-versa, it asked for a reduction in human-wildlife interface and restriction on the movement of people to national parks/sanctuaries/tiger reserves.

States have also been asked to constitute a task force/rapid action force with field managers, veterinary doctors, frontline staff to manage the situation as quickly as possible and create a ‘round the clock’ reporting mechanism with a nodal officer for swift 

management of any cases noticed.

"Set up essential services for emergency treatment of animals and their safe release back to their natural habitats, as and when required, and enhance disease surveillance, mapping and monitoring system through coordinated effort amongst various departments," says the advisory.

Maintain all other stipulations issued by the Health Ministry in the movement of staff/tourists/villagers, etc in and around national parks/sanctuaries/tiger reserves, take other possible steps to control the spread of the virus and report the action taken to this Ministry, says the Advisory signed By Dr R Gopinath.