Bird flu scare: Asiatic lion Pataudi dies, Kanpur zoo to remain shut till May 20

KANPUR: The Asiatic lion Pataudi died at the Kanpur zoo on Thursday morning amid concerns over bird flu.The lion was shifted to Kanpur from the Ashfaq Ullah Khan Zoological Park in Gorakhpur on May 11 for treatment, following the death of a tigress, Shakti, due to bird flu.The authorities have sent samples to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, for testing.Additional animal samples are being collected, and the zoo will remain closed until May 20.According to veterinarians, the 15-year-old lion was initially relocated from Junagadh to Etawah Lion Safari on September 25, 2019. In 2021, he was transferred to Ashfaq Ullah Zoological Park in Gorakhpur.The lion was receiving treatment for pancreatic and liver infections. For two days before his death, Pataudi only consumed water, refusing food. Medical professionals administered intravenous medications, and on Wednesday, animal husbandry department doctors conducted an examination.The lion was kept in quarantine, with test results from NIHSAD Bhopal expected today. The zoo premises are under continuous sanitisation.After confirming bird flu in the deceased tigress Shakti at Gorakhpur zoo, doctors increased Pataudi's medication. Dr. Nasir supervised a team of four attending to the lion. Upon arrival at the zoo on May 11, Pataudi consumed one kilogram of chicken but stopped eating completely from Tuesday.Ranger Naved Ikram confirmed that other animals are under observation. He stated, "All are healthy. There are instructions not to enter the wildlife enclosures without wearing PPE kits."The zoo management awaits Pataudi's blood report from Bhopal, after which his remains will be cremated in an incinerator following safety protocols.