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Thai zoo isolates pandas from chickens over bird flu concerns
By (Agencies)
Updated: 2004-02-14 16:17
A zoo in northern Thailand has isolated two endangered giant pandas over
fears they may catch bird flu after a leopard in another zoo is believed to have
died from the disease, officials said Saturday.
The pandas are healthy. But authorities are worried that scores of chickens
scampering freely around the Chiang Mai Zoo in the country's north may sicken
the pandas if the birds are infected with bird flu, the zoo's director Tanapat
Pongpamorn said.
The avian virus has killed millions of chickens across Thailand as well as
five humans. On Friday, authorities said tests had shown that a clouded leopard
died from the disease on Jan. 27 at Khao Khiew Zoo, south of Bangkok.
Zoo officials said the leopards may have become infected with bird flu after
eating raw chicken meat.
Workers at the Chian Mai zoo were trying to keep wild roosters and hens from
coming close to the pandas, Tanapat said.
``Those chickens were born in the wild. They roam the zoo everywhere,'' he
said. ``We're doing our best.''
He said veterinarians were checking the health of the pandas regularly and
discussing the results with Chinese experts. The pandas have been rented from
China for 10 years for US$250,000.
Last month, officials ordered the closure of the bird sections at zoos across
the country over bird flu concerns after the carcasses of two crows - which
tested positive for the virus - were found near a flamingo cage at Bangkok's
Dusit Zoo.
Natural Resources and the Environment Minister Prapat Panyachatraksa said
Friday that more test results were being awaited to confirm the exact type of
bird flu the leopard had.
Based on early tests, it wasn't clear whether the leopard had the same
variety of avian flu that has infected people, or a milder strain.
The World Health Organization said it had little information about the case,
but if confirmed, it could be the first known time the disease has jumped to
exotic animals or members of the cat family.
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