Agartala: The Tripura government on Saturday asked its animal resources development department to be on high alert after a rhino died of anthrax at the Sepahijala Zoo on Wednesday night. Zoo authorities have begun vaccinating the animals.

Principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden A K Gupta said the rhino’s death was a one-off incident. “An anthrax alert has been issued as a precaution. Vaccination of animals has begun,” Gupta said. On Friday, a high-level meeting was held at the Sepahijala Zoo which was attended by senior officials from the forest department, animal resources department, state veterinary college and the district administration. A monitoring committee and a vaccination committee have been constituted to review the situation. All animals found within 5 km of the zoo will also be vaccinated, Gupta said.

He added, “Visitors are allowed to enter the Sepahijala Zoo, but the rhino enclosure will be cordoned off for at least six months as per protocol.” Gupta said the state veterinary hospital has confirmed the presence of Bacillus anthracis in the blood and liver of the dead rhino which was buried inside the zoo on Friday.

