Kathmandu. The Central Zoo at Jawalakhel of Lalitpur has suffered financial loss worth Rs 30 million after it was forced to close for 27 days following the confirmation of bird flu infection.

The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) had closed the lockdown for the general public from June 5 after the outbreak of bird flu infection. The zoo has been reopened from July 1 after the infection came under control.

Information Officer at the zoo, Ganesh Koirala, said that regular sanitation, treatment of infected animals and necessary precaution were adopted after the infection was detected. A joint meeting of the Department of Livestock Services, Central Veterinary Disease Research Laboratory, Epidemiology and Disease Control Division had decided to reopen the zoo.

According to him, 1,700 to 1,800 visitors visit the zoo on a normal day. Around 5,000 to 7,000 people used to spend time at the zoo on Saturdays and 3,500 to 5,000 on Sundays. Only 800 people had visited the zoo on the first day of its resumption, July 14.

The entry fee for children and senior citizens is Rs 100, Rs 150 for students and Rs 250 for other visitors.

In the last fiscal year, the zoo had earned around Rs 18 crore. Although the target was to earn Rs 210 million in the fiscal year 2082/83, the lockdown due to bird flu has added more challenges to meet the target.

Currently, the zoo ticket counter will remain open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. All visitors must leave by 5 p.m. Before the pandemic, the ticket counter was open till 6 pm.