Delhi Zoo Cleared to Reopen After Months of Avian Flu Lockdown

As of October 9, 2025, the Delhi Zoo is preparing to reopen its doors to the public after a prolonged closure due to an avian flu outbreak. According to the zoo officials, no positive samples have been reported since September 2, and the latest round of random sampling, sent to the National Institute for High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal, has come back negative.

The zoo director, Sanjeet Kumar, stated that the proposal to resume operations has been submitted to the competent authorities, and the decision will be made in accordance with the prescribed guidelines. "The report for the latest samples, sent on October 1 and received on October 7, came back negative. As per the rules, after two consecutive negative reports since the last positive case, we have moved a proposal for reopening and the date will be informed once the ministry gives approval," he said.

The Delhi Zoo, which was established in 1959 and is spread across an area of 176 acres, houses a diverse collection of 96 different species of animals, birds, and reptiles. The zoo had previously been shut down in 2016 and 2021 due to avian influenza outbreaks, and this latest closure was triggered by the detection of the H5N1 bird flu virus in at least 12 bird deaths reported between August 28 and 31.