Lucknow, May 14 -- The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a week-long shutdown of the Etawah Lion Safari and zoos in Lucknow, Kanpur, and Gorakhpur following confirmation of bird flu in a deceased tigress at Gorakhpur's Shaheed Ashfaqulla Khan Zoological Park.

According to a press statement, the decision was taken on the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, following which the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Anuradha Vemuri, issued official orders.

During this period, the zoo will closely monitor all wild animals and make medical arrangements based on their symptoms. Special directives have been issued to promptly report unusual animal or bird deaths, particularly those potentially linked to bird flu, ens...