India, Sept. 29 -- Over a month after shutting down indefinitely due to an avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak, the Delhi zoo has said it could reopen next month if fresh samples collected test negative for the virus. The zoo was closed on August 30 after bird deaths, with the last positive sample reported on September 1.

Zoo director Sanjeet Kumar said random sampling has been carried out since, with all results so far returning negative. "After the report of September 1, all subsequent samples have tested negative for bird flu. We will be sending the next batch around October 1, which will be around a month after the last positive report. Based on the results, we can consider the reopening of the zoo," he told HT.

Kumar said the next ...