Ragunan officially reopens

Ragunan officially reopens

Tantri Yuliandini and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriantono together with Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso reopened Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta on
Tuesday, declaring the 140-hectare compound free of bird flu.

"People need no longer be afraid of visiting Ragunan as of
this Oct. 11 it is free of bird flu and open to the public,"
Sutiyoso said during the reopening ceremony.

The zoo was closed last month after it was found that 19 of
its captive birds had avian influenza. The closure reportedly
caused the zoo Rp 700 million (about US$70,000) in losses.

Birds from endangered species at risk from bird flu have been
treated while those not on the endangered list were culled
earlier.

On Friday, the veterinary division of the Ministry of
Agriculture declared that all of the zoo's birds had tested
negative for bird flu, as had the zoo's 250 employees.

Ragunan Zoo has taken measures to prevent the bird flu virus
from reemerging at the zoo, including spraying enclosures with
disinfectant twice daily, and providing the animals with
antiviral drugs, vitamins and minerals.

Anton said that to avoid fresh infections, Ragunan would also
restrict the adding of new animals to its collection, adding that
the zoo would keep bantam chickens to provide early warning of
new infections. These chickens would have blood tests every two
weeks, he said.

He also said that while still people should still exercise
care about the virus, they should not be overly concerned or
panic as bird flu was a mild virus easily killed by heat,
sunlight, and disinfectants such as detergent.

Anton advised people to ensure the cleanliness of bird cages
by regularly spraying with disinfectant, to wash the hands with
soap after contact with birds or bird products, and to keep
sickly birds away from children and the elderly.

"Bird meat and eggs should be well-cooked before eating and
sick birds should be immediately reported to the authorities," he
explained.