Omaha Apr 6 (US): Zoos across North America are moving their birds indoors and away from people and wildlife as they try to protect them from the highly contagious and potentially deadly bird flu.
Penguins may be the only birds that visitors to many zoos can see at the moment, because they are already kept indoors and are usually protected behind glass in their exhibits, making them difficult for bird flu to access.
Nearly 23 million chickens and turkeys have already been killed across the United States to curb the spread of the virus, and zoos are working hard to prevent any of their birds from facing the same fate. It would be especially troublesome if zoos had to kill any of the endangered or threatened species in their care.
“It would be very devastating,” said Maria Frank, director of welfare sciences at the Toronto Zoo, which has fewer than two dozen Loggerhead Shrike songbirds breeding in hopes of reintroducing them into the wild.
So far, no outbreaks of the disease have been reported in zoos, but dead wild birds with influenza have been found.
For example, Zoo spokesman Ryan Bickle said a wild duck died in the backstage area at Blanc Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa, after tornadoes last month tested positive.
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