Mysuru: Forest Minister B Ramanath Rai on January 4, paid a sudden visit to Mysore Zoo to take stock of the situation arising out of the Avian Flu outbreak.
The minister collected all details on the outbreak from Zoo Executive Director Kamala Karikalan and other officials and also discussed on the issue of banning the visitors’ entry for over a month.

Briefing on the outcome of his visit, Rai said the decision to shut down the zoo for over a month was taken in the best interests of birds and animals. Blood and viscera samples had been sent to labs for examination and only if the reports turned negative, zoo will be reopened for public, he clarified.