Agartala, January 7 (TIWN): Anthrax epidemic at Sepahijala wildlife sanctuary is now under control. Vaccination process is still continuing. The tourists can now visit the spot and enjoy picnic, said the District Magistrate of Sepahijala, Prashant Kumar Goyel over telephone today. Speaking to TIWN, Goyel further informed that, though the situation is now under control but precautionary measures are being taken.

According to a highly placed official source, all endangered animals housing in the sanctuary and zoo were being tested to confirm any possible spread of the disease among the animals. The source further added that a recent meeting headed by Chief Wildlife Warden Dr. A K Gupta resolved to develop the veterinary hospital inside the zoo complex. The unit would be made a state-of-art hospital, the source added. All endangered animals, those are suspected to be vulnerable to anthrax attack, were tested.

“We are testing their blood, stool and urine samples. All livestock within a significant radius of the wildlife sanctuary and the zoo were given vaccines already in a war footing to stop any escalation of the situation”, an official of the sanctuary said.

He added that the authorities recently received an instruction from the Department to start integrated tests. Soil and water sources in and around the sanctuary complex would be tested to ascertain any causes of contamination or presence of virus, bacteria or protozoan cysts.

A joint committee with officials from the forest department, department for animal resource development was formed to monitor the progress in reducing disease outbreak possibilities at Sepahijala zoo. The committee is learnt to submit its initial report within the next 15 days.

Earlier, the state government has imposed several restrictions on wildlife health situation at Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary and Zoo after a Rhinoceros died from anthrax on December 10. Sepahijala is a wonderful wilderness setting within less than 25kms from Agartala which houses the key species like spectacled monkey and clouded leopard in the wild, as well as in the zoo. It is fairly well maintained inspire of several villages around the 18.5 sq km wildlife sanctuary and 68 hectares of zoo area. There is an extension into a botanical garden, which houses the Panchakarma Herbal Centre on the Kerala model of herbal treatment and massage. There is a well set accommodation facility with well meaning staff. All combinations to make it a world class ‘conservation tourism’ destination. But now, the environment around the Sepahijala is decorating day by day.

Due to lack of infrastructure, the wild life sanctuary is losing its glory day by day. Repairing work is under progress. The environment centers surrounds the sanctuary is entirely becomes unhygienic. The dead skeleton of the animals are scattering here and there which stopped the tourists from entering to the wonderful scenery of the nature.