LUCKNOW, May 22 -- All zoological parks and a lion safari in the state were closed to keep animals safe even as pending sample reports were awaited before any further action was taken in connection with the bird flu cases detected in animals, said forest minister Arun K Saxena at a press conference here on Wednesday. On the bird flu deaths of wild animals in the state, the minister said: "Five animals tested positive for bird flu, and in the next few days all pending reports should arrive. We are awaiting test results from Bhopal and IVRI Bareilly and will proceed on the chief minister's guidance." On a query regarding the alleged laxity by zoo staff, the minister said: "All steps were taken on experts' advice to screen animals, protect zoo staff, isolate animals with symptoms and not to provide animals with meat that could suspiciously contain the virus. We followed all the advice." All zoos and the lion safari in Uttar Pradesh have been closed till May 27. So far, about 200 samples have been taken for testing, including of over 100 zoo staff who tested negative. Sharing details of a one-day programme on the Biodiversity Day on Thursday, the minister said the programme was designed to make people aware of the importance of biodiversity and the key role it (biodiversity) played in their lives....