Threat of pathogens looms large over zoo

KANPUR: After facing threat of deadly bacteria leptospira last year which had taken into its grip lioness Lakshmi, the threat of spread of pathogens is again looming large over Kanpur zoo.
This is so because the soil from the lake bed is being used for the construction and levelling of pathways in the zoo. It had also been used for the making of the path over which the tracks for the zoo train have been laid and the underconstruction aviaries.This soil had been contaminated with the nullah water which used to overflow inside the zoo till for several years and stopped only last year. In the rainy season, the pathogens become active.
Even now, the zoo lake has nullah water accumulated in it which is the breeding ground for pathogens. Over the years, the pathogens have percolated in the soil of the lake bed. Now its use in various construction activities is a cause of concern. Disinfectants had been sprayed in the animal enclosures as a precautionary measure. The zoo administration had sent a sample of soil for lab tests last week, the reports of which are awaited.
Kanpur zoo director K Thomas said: "We have already sent a sample of lake bed soil for tests at a local lab. The results are expected in three to four days."
The lake bed soil was contaminated for years as nullah used to flow inside the zoo. It was the breeding ground for pathogens, especially deadly leptospira and E Coli.
It may be recalled that in the first week of June as many as eight white peacocks had died one after the other. The zoo veterinarians had conducted the postmortem examination. The autopsy revealed about the presence of bacteria Escherichia coli (E coli) in the lungs.
Chief veterinary officer CS Yadav, who had also inspected the zoo, expressed concern over the presence of bacteria Escherichia coli in the lungs of the white peacock.
Thomas had then told the district authorities that the zoo lake with accumulated sewage water needs cleaning and a proposal for it had already been sent to the state government. After approval, the work of cleaning of the lake will commence.