KATHMANDU: Satya Narayan Sah, the chief of Central Zoo, Jawalakhel, has been pulled into an investigation. He has also been removed from his post.

Sah came under investigation on allegations of keeping quiet and failing to inform the central office of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) in a timely manner regarding the confirmation of Bird Flu (H5N1) infection at the zoo.

Following the directives of the Minister for Forests, Environment, and Agriculture, Geeta Chaudhary—who also serves as the chairperson of the Trust—the NTNC removed Sah from his position as the zoo chief.

The Trust has formed a three-member investigation committee, coordinated by its spokesperson and head of the species department, Rachana Shah, to find out the cause behind the spread of Bird Flu at the zoo.

The investigation committee members include the Trust’s administration chief, Hari Bikram Singh, and the head of the conservation area department, Madhu Chhetri.

The committee has been directed to conduct the investigation and submit its report within a week.

Stating that he was not sensitive toward wildlife safety and information dissemination, the Trust has recalled chief Sah to the central office.

Since Sah has been relieved of his duties, senior officer Babu Lal Tiruwa has been given the responsibility of acting chief of the zoo.

The confirmation of Bird Flu among the animals at the zoo came from sample tests conducted at the Department of Livestock Services.

Even though birds and animals had started dying at the zoo about 10 days ago, Sah had not provided any information regarding this to the central office of the Nature Conservation Trust.

When testing was conducted after the bird deaths did not stop, Bird Flu was detected in egrets, owls, and vultures, as well as in animals like the large Indian civet and the leopard cat.

The directive to remove Sah from his responsibilities was issued after no information was provided despite many days having passed since the wildlife died from the disease infection.

The Trust initiated a departmental action and advanced the investigation against Sah due to a series of recent incidents at the zoo and his failure to report a sensitive issue like Bird Flu to the center on time.