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Dong Nai Zoo closes following 20 wildcat deaths

The Mango Garden Zoo in the southern province of Dong Nai has temporarily closed after 20 tigers and a panther died from the A/H5N1 virus.

The Mango Garden Zoo in the southern province of Dong Nai has temporarily closed after 20 tigers and a panther died from the A/H5N1 virus.

Dong Nai Zoo closes following 20 wildcat deaths - 1


The Mango Garden Zoo in the southern province of Dong Nai has temporarily closed after 20 tigers and a panther died from the A/H5N1 virus.

The zoo's director, Ngo Van Sang, said that the zoo would temporarily close from October 8 until further notice while co-operating with local authorities to prevent the virus from spreading.

"All the dead animals have been destroyed following instruction from local authorities, while others at the zoo are now in stable health," Sang said.

Dong Nai Zoo closes following 20 wildcat deaths - 2


The tigers kept at the Mango Zoo

The private zoo was permitted to keep wild and rare animals for preservation. It currently holds over 3,000 wild animals of nearly 90 species, including Bengal tigers, white lions, bears, hippos, panthers, and zebras, on a total area of 23,000 square metres.

Between September 6 and October 1, 20 Bengal tigers and a black panther died at the site. Investigations by local authorities concluded that the animals died from the A/H5N1 virus infection from chicken served to them for meals.

My Quynh Zoo in the neighbouring Long An Province also reported the deaths of 27 tigers and three lions between early August and mid-September. Their samples also tested positive for the A/H5N1 virus, while the sources of infection have remained unclear.

Authorities in Dong Nai and Long An have requested tight management of the food served to animals at local zoos.

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