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Shock in the zoo: bird flu forces drastic measures!
Zoos in Ostprignitz-Ruppin open with safety rules despite bird flu. Compulsory stables for poultry and special events.
Shock in the zoo: bird flu forces drastic measures!
Bird flu is currently keeping Germany in suspense, and the zoos in the north-west of Brandenburg are particularly affected. How maz online reported, a strict stable requirement applies to all poultry populations, including in zoos. This is a measure to slow the spread of avian influenza, known as bird flu.
Accordingly, the Germendorf Animal and Leisure Park remains open despite the current situation, but there are some restrictions for visitors. Dogs are still welcome, while aviaries will be covered to prevent infection from wild birds. Walk-in bird enclosures, however, are closed. In addition, feeding ducks and swans is prohibited, which may come as an unpleasant surprise for some zoo visitors. Opening hours are daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., in November until 5 p.m. Entrance fees are 7 euros for adults and less for children.
Halloween at the zoo
A ray of hope in the current situation is the upcoming Halloween celebration on November 1st in Germendorf Zoo, which attracts with various activities. Similar measures to those in Germendorf also apply in the Kunsterspring Zoo, which is also open but prohibits feeding at the waterfowl facility. The Owl Forest is particularly affected and must remain closed.
The Perleberg Zoo, which is also affected by the stable requirement, will not say goodbye without a Halloween celebration on October 31st, where children in costumes receive free entry. Ducks and geese must also be housed here, and contact with domestic poultry should be avoided to minimize the risk of infection. As in Germendorf, the daily opening times are between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., with prices that should please the children.
Broad-based containment measures
The situation is tense throughout Germany and especially in Brandenburg. In the last few days, several poultry farms with over 155,000 affected animals have already been listed rbb24 and the Friedrich Loeffler Institute. While the stable requirement applies in many districts, part of the population in Berlin will initially be spared from a general obligation, but the districts are asked to emphasize biosecurity measures.
Bird flu has already caused millions of dollars in economic damage. While many animals were killed in Brandenburg, this is only part of the story. So far, over 500,000 birds have had to be killed across Germany, and the spread of the virus is estimated to be “high”. ZDF highlights that cranes are particularly affected, with tens of thousands of them already dead.
However, the population does not need to worry too much about endangering their own health at the moment. Recently, no case of H5N1 has been detected in humans, but the situation remains tense. Contact with dead birds should be avoided at all costs to avoid the risk of spreading the virus.
The hope that vaccination against bird flu will make progress in Germany remains uncertain in the future, as legal obstacles have not yet been overcome. We can only hope that the zoos will survive the crisis well and that visitors can continue to enjoy the animals.