LALITPUR: The Central Zoo in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, suffered a financial loss of approximately Rs 30 million after being forced to close for 27 days due to a bird flu outbreak. The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) had shut down the zoo for the general public on June 19 following the confirmation of the infection. It was reopened on July 16 after the situation was brought under control.

According to the zoo’s Information Officer, Ganesh Koirala, rigorous sanitation, treatment of infected animals, and necessary safety precautions were implemented after the outbreak. The decision to reopen the zoo was subsequently taken during a joint meeting of senior officials from the Department of Livestock Services, the Central Veterinary Disease Research Laboratory, and the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.

On normal days, the zoo used to welcome around 1,700 to 1,800 visitors daily. Weekend footfall ranged from 5,000 to 7,000 on Saturdays and 3,500 to 5,000 on Sundays. However, on the first day of its reopening on July 16, only 800 visitors turned up. Currently, the zoo charges an entry fee of Rs 100 for children and senior citizens, Rs 150 for students, and Rs 250 for other visitors.

While the zoo generated around Rs 18 crore in revenue during the last fiscal year, it had targeted an income of Rs 21 crore for the fiscal year 2025/26. The management stated that meeting this target has now become challenging due to the prolonged closure caused by the bird flu. In the post-outbreak schedule, the ticket counter remains open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with all visitors required to exit by 5:00 PM, whereas the counter used to stay open until 6:00 PM before the infection.