Measures by the end of January – Zurich Zoo is moving its birds inside because of the bird flu
Published
Due to the current situation of bird flu in the canton of Zurich, Zurich Zoo is taking its birds that are dying outside, otherwise temporarily in closed indoor areas.
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Zurich Zoo keeps most of its birds in closed indoor areas.
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The zoo takes these measures to protect against infection with bird flu.
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Probably not all birds can be admired by the visitors by the end of January.
Zurich Zoo is taking measures to protect its birds from the current bird flu situation. According to a notification, a large part of the birds that are outside are moved to closed indoor facilities. Bird species particularly endangered by the virus, such as domestic fowl, waterfowl and ratites, have already moved.
Some other bird species that are not so acutely threatened by the virus, such as the Chilean flamingos, remain outside for the time being. “Depending on the situation, they are also taken into the stables later,” says spokeswoman Rita Schlegel.
No visit for the birds
This measure, which is expected to last until the end of January, means for zoo visitors that they can no longer marvel at all bird species. In addition, the well-known penguin parade must also be stopped. The bird meadow will also be closed to visitors again.
Birds that die in closed indoor areas are not affected by the preventive measures, including those in the Masoala rainforest and in the indoor aviaries of the Exotarium. The birds in the forest aviaries also stay outside. Depending on the development, the aviaries will be covered later.
Outbreak in the Zurich Unterland
In November, in the community of Hüntwangen in the Zurich Unterland, animals of a highly contagious variant of the bird flu virus are kept in private chicken rearing. «Many animals have died. The other survivors are killed in order to prevent it from spreading to other poultry holdings, ”the health department of the Canton of Zurich wrote in a statement at the time.
According to the announcement, the outbreak in Hüntwangen is most likely caused by infected wild water birds. Since the end of October, bird flu cases among wild water birds in Europe have risen sharply. The first cases have also occurred in poultry farms in several countries.
According to the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), the virus cannot be transmitted to humans based on current knowledge.
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