Odisha MLA threatens to lock Nandankanan over elephant deaths

Bhubaneswar: Expressing resentment over elephant deaths at Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) on outskirts of Bhubaneswar due to suspected herpes virus, MLA Suresh Kumar Routray today threatened to lock the zoo on Wednesday till the government takes appropriate steps to tackle the spread of virus.

The zoo will be shut from 10.00 am on September 25 as mark of protest over spread of herpes virus from Daruthenga to adjacent areas, he said.

The protest will continue till the government holds discussion with expert team and comes up with solution for safety of wildlife.

Talking to media today, the Congress legislator from Jatni Assembly Constituency said that the dumping yard at Daruthenga is the chief cause of outbreak of herpes virus that claimed four elephant lives at Nandankanan in less than a month. The virus may further spread to Chandaka sanctuary posing threat to wildlife.

“If the situation continues, the zoo will be void of animals and birds very soon,” Routray said.

He sought expert team’s intervention in the matter for protection of wildlife at the zoo.

Worth mentioning, the Congress leader politcised the incident by raising Daruthenga dumping yard, which has been opposed by the villagers since a long time.