Kathmandu, June 20: Chief of the Central Zoo in Jawalakhel, Satyanarayan Sah, is under investigation for allegedly concealing confirmed bird flu (H5N1) outbreak from the central office of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC).
Acting on the directive of NTNC Chairperson and Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment, Geeta Chaudhary, the Trust has relieved Satyanarayan Sah from his position as Chief of the Zoo.
Furthermore, a three-member investigation committee led by its spokesperson and Head of the Species Department, Rachana Shah has been formed to examine the handling of the bird flu outbreak at the zoo, according to the NTNC.
The Committee also includes NTNC Administration Chief Hari Bikram Singh and Head of the Conservation Area Department Dr Madhu Kshetri. The Committee has been tasked to complete the inquiry and submit a report within one week.
Citing concerns over inadequate attention to wildlife safety and failure in timely information sharing, the Trust has transferred Sah to the central office pending investigation.
The Ministry stated that senior officer Babulal Tiruwa has been assigned as Acting Chief of the Zoo.
Laboratory testing conducted by the Department of Livestock Services confirmed bird flu infection among animals and birds housed at the Zoo.
The Zoo, sprawling across six hectare of land in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur district, is home to 1,272 animals and birds of 112 species.
According to Zoo officials, birds and animals had reportedly been dying at the Zoo for around 10 days before the outbreak was formally reported, but no information had been conveyed to the NTNC headquarters during that period.
Subsequent testing confirmed bird flu infection in several species, including herons, owls and vultures, as well as mammals such as civet cats and clouded leopards.
Authorities informed disciplinary action and investigation were initiated after it emerged that wildlife deaths linked to the disease had not been reported for several days.
The Trust explained that the failure to promptly notify the central office about such a sensitive issue, alongside a series of recent incidents at the zoo, prompted the departmental action against Sah.
