After a tiger at a zoo in the US?tested positive for?coronavirus, authorities at the Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand have set up quarantine wards in its ranges, for tigers, elephants and sniffer dog squads. This is a bid to protect the wildlife from the virus.??
Quarantine wards are at Kalagarh and Bijrani ranges within the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, CTR Director, Rahul, told PTI.?
Apart from that, 40 video mode cameras and 450 still mode cameras have been installed at the peripheries of the reserve to keep a tab on any abnormal behaviour by animals which might suggest they have contracted the COVID-19 contagion, he said.?
The reserve staff have been asked to stay put at the posts and they are being supplied with essentials there to prevent the possibility of their getting infected with COVID-19 and then passing it on to the animals that they have to handle.
Patrolling staff have also been asked to keep an eye on any abnormal behaviour by the wildlife at the reserve.?
Elaborate arrangements have also been made at the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, to save tigers and other animals at the facility from the novel coronavirus infection, its Director, PK Patro, said.?
"The reserve is under complete lockdown. The food for captive animals is sanitised at the gates before being brought in to be served to them. Zoo keepers who handle them are also being subjected to regular thermal screening to check if they have any symptoms of corona," Patro said.?
He said if the need to quarantine animals arises, the rescue centres can be used for the purpose.?
Strict guidelines have been issued to the staff to inform the authorities if they spot the carcass of an animal within the reserve or at its peripheries. They have been asked to inform the Director if they see signs of illness in an animal, he said.?
According to an official estimate there are around 250 tigers and 1,100 elephants in Corbett Tiger Reserve while there are 38 tigers and 450 elephants in Rajaji. The Uttarakhand forest department has 22 captive elephants and two sniffer dog squads.?