Bird Flu Outbreak Causes NPR 30 Million Loss to Central Zoo

The Central Zoo in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, has incurred a loss of NPR 30 million after it was closed for 27 days due to a bird flu outbreak.

The zoo was closed to the public from Ashar 5 after the outbreak was confirmed, but it reopened on Shrawan 1 after the infection was brought under control.

According to Ganesh Koirala, information officer at the zoo, regular cleaning, treatment of infected animals, and necessary precautions were taken after the outbreak.

A joint meeting of senior officials from the Department of Animal Services, the Central Animal Disease Research Laboratory, and the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division later decided to reopen the zoo.

Koirala said that on a normal day, around 1,700 to 1,800 people visit the zoo, while on Saturdays, the number increases to 5,000 to 7,000, and on Sundays, it reaches 3,500 to 5,000.

However, on the first day of its reopening on Shrawan 1, only 800 people visited the zoo.

The zoo charges an entrance fee of NPR 100 for children and senior citizens, NPR 150 for students, and NPR 250 for other visitors.

Last year, the zoo earned around NPR 18 million, and it had set a target of earning NPR 21 million in the fiscal year 2082/83, but the prolonged closure due to the bird flu outbreak has made it challenging to achieve this target.

The zoo’s ticket counter is currently open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and all visitors must leave the premises by 5:00 pm.

Previously, the ticket counter was open until 6:00 pm.