In a rare case bird flu becoming fatal for wildlife, three tigers and a sub-adult leopard died due to highly pathogenic avian flu H5N1 virus.
These deaths have been reported at Gorewada Rescue Centre in the outskirts of Nagpur. After reports confirmed deaths due to flu, a red alert has been issued across Maharashtra rules, rescue in transit centre.
These animals were shifted to Gorewada from Chandrapur after instances of human-wildlife conflict in December. One of the tigers died on 20th December and 2 others died on 23rd December.
After death of these animals, their samples were sent to ICAR- National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NISHAD) Bhopal. On Jan 1 reports confirmed deaths due H5N1.