Turtle Back Zoo In NJ Closes Some Exhibits Over Bird Flu Concerns – Patch
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Flamingoes, bald eagles, condors and hawks. These are some of the outdoor bird exhibits at the Turtle Back Zoo that are being temporarily closed to protect animals from a “newly discovered, highly pathogenic” avian influenza, Essex County officials announced Friday.
All outdoor exhibits featuring birds are being closed as a precautionary measure to protect the birds from exposure to the influenza and to help stop the spread of the disease, officials said.
There have been no cases of the virus reported at Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange as of Friday. However, cases have recently been detected in wild bird populations in surrounding areas, officials said.
According to county officials:
“Exhibits affected include those featuring the flamingoes, bald eagles, condors and hawks. The opening of the seasonal aviary display in the Outback Adventure Exhibit will be delayed until further notice. The peacocks that are allowed to roam freely in the zoo’s grounds also will be relocated to indoor accommodations. Birds in the Reptile House and the penguins in the Shores of Africa Exhibit will remain available for our guests to see because they are kept in enclosed exhibits and the birds are not exposed to outdoor conditions.”
The zoo will remain open to the public. Hours are seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Because several exhibits will be closed, admission is being discounted to $14 for adults and $12 for children under 12 and senior citizens. Children younger than 2 receive free admission.
“We pride ourselves on providing the highest level of care for these vulnerable species and that includes having contingency plans in place that allow us to be proactive during disease outbreaks and prevent any loss of the animals we and our guests value so dearly,” Essex County Turtle Back Zoo Director Jilian Fazio said.
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said that as an accredited facility, the health and welfare of the zoo’s animals “is of paramount concern.”
“Turtle Back Zoo is located along migratory routes for birds, so it is important that we do all we can to prevent the birds in our care from getting infected,” DiVincenzo said.
“All of our birds that are featured in outdoor exhibits are being temporarily moved indoors out of an abundance of caution to protect them from harm,” he added. “Our dedicated staff is taking extreme measures to ensure all of our birds are well cared for while they are placed in quarantine.”
The Turtle Back Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Zoological Association of American and American Humane.
Essex County officials said the virus was first detected in a non-commercial backyard flock of birds in Michigan.
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the disease – a highly pathogenic avian influenza, subtype H5N1 – was identified in free-ranging Canada geese and tundra swans, snowy owls, and in a mute swan. The cases come on the heels of the state’s first Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) detection in a backyard, non-commercial poultry flock in February.
Avian influenza can infect both free-ranging and domestic poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, quail, geese and swans. Ducks and geese are considered carriers; however, geese generally do not pass it on, officials said.
“With this type of highly pathogenic avian influenza, there may be an absence of many of the routine signs of illness in domestic poultry. Sudden death and high death losses are major indicators of HPAI. However, sick birds may experience neurological signs; difficulty walking; lack of appetite, energy or vocalization; significant drop in egg production; swollen combs, wattles, legs or head; diarrhea; or nasal discharge, sneezing or coughing.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the risk to people from HPAI viruses to be low. To date, no human HPAI infections have been detected in the United States.
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