All seven foxes at Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park in Ranchi have died between March and April from a suspected outbreak of the highly contagious canine distemper virus.
The foxes had been suffering from pneumonia-like symptoms. Zoo director Jabbar Singh said samples collected from the dead animals had been sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) at Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.
“IVRI officials have told us that the confirmatory reports of the samples will reach us soon. Only then can we be in a position to confirm the real reason behind the deaths. At the moment, we are suspecting it to be a case of viral outbreak, as has been communicated verbally by IVRI officials. Most of the foxes were quite aged,” Singh said.
He said the first death was reported in the first week of March and the last death took place in the first week of April.
“We have started giving anti-virals to all canines near the foxes’ enclosures. We have fumigated and sprayed sanitisers in all the enclosures. The zoo keepers have been kept in isolation,” Singh said.
Dr M.K. Gupta of the Ranchi Veterinary College, who had carried out the post-mortem of the foxes, said the animals were primarily suffering from pneumonia.
Canine distemper is considered fatal for canines such as foxes, dogs and wolves. It infects the lungs and affects respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems, said zoo vet Dr O.P. Sahu.
