Coronavirus scare: Punjab's Chhatbir Zoo closed till March 31

MOHALI: In the wake of coronavirus (Covid-19) scare, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday ordered the closure of all zoos in the state, including Chhatbir Zoo till March 31.
Disclosing this in Mohali on Monday, a spokesperson of the chief minister’s office said that the decision was taken as a preventive measure to avert any exigency arising out of Covid-19.
Pertinently, there is one large zoo at Chhatbir near Chandigarh besides four other small zoos at Patiala, Ludhiana, Bathinda and Neelon near Samrala in Punjab.
Nearly 4000 visitors on an average visit these zoos daily whereas the number swells to 10000 over weekends and more during holidays in summer and winter seasons.
The wildlife authorities have been taking all necessary precautions regarding bio safety parameters at zoos. However, as preventive measures in line with the state government guidelines, the wildlife department has decided to take this step in larger public interest. Initially the closure has been declared upto March 31, which will be subsequently reviewed afterwards.