AGARTALA, January 3 (TIWN): After a long halt of anthrax virus detection, finally Tripura Sepahijala Zoo resumed with the end of the vaccination of existing animals. On December 13 the state govt. asked its animal resources development department to be on high alert after the only rhino at the zoo died of anthrax at the Sepahijala on December 12 night. And since then the Zoo authorities have begun vaccinating the animals.

Talking to TIWN today the Principle Secretary (Tripura Forest Department) V.K. Bahuguna said that vaccination of the animals at Sepahijala Zoo ended, and it started functioning. People started gathering at the zoo for picnic and for having a view of the wild animals at the zoo. It is absolutely virus free now in the zoo and there is no chance of further occurrence of such incidents, said Bahuguna.

Principal Chief Conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden A K Gupta earlier said that the rhino's death was a one-off incident. Since after the anthrax virus reported from Sepahijala zoo 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 also been constituted to review the situation.

According to the early report 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.

Sepahijala Zoo is a popular zoo situated in Tripura. It is also known as Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary that is built on 18.53 sq km area. This zoo has managed to gain a place among countries popular zoos because of its huge collection of birds and other wildlife animals. This has become the popular place for Flora and all the animals of particular region.