Two crow deaths at Gorakhpur zoo increase bird flu worries
The death of two more crows on Saturday evening and Sunday morning has heightened fears of a worsening avian influenza outbreak at the Gorakhpur Zoo that is closed for visitors till May 20.
Gorakhpur zoo deputy director Dr Yogesh Pratap Singh confirmed the discovery of the crow carcasses. He said both would be handed over to an expert team from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for pathological examination to confirm the presence of the bird flu virus.
A five-member expert panel will begin a two-day inspection on Monday.
A report on the avian influenza outbreak will be prepared following the inspection. The outbreak was initially confirmed by Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases on May 12, in a sample taken from the tigress Shakti.
The team includes joint director, Animal Husbandry, Vijay Kumar Tetiya, Dr Manoj Kumar from NIHSAD and officials from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly. The team will inspect the zoo premises, animal enclosures, and the bird sanctuary area, collecting samples for laboratory analysis. They will also go through the deaths due to bird flu and analyse the steps taken till now.
Till now, three deaths due to bird flu have been reported at the Gorakhpur zoo.
An over seven-year-old tiger Keshri died on March 30, a leopard succumbed on April 7, while the tigress Shakti died on May 8, Gorakhpur divisional officer Vikas Yadav said. Bird flu was confirmed in their samples, he added.
The Asiatic lion Pataudi, which was shifted from Gorakhpur to Kanpur on May 11, died on May 15. His sample and that of a dead peacock at the Kanpur zoo, too, tested positive for bird flu, according to officials.
All zoos in Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Kanpur) and the Etawah lion safari are closed till May 20 as a precaution against bird flu.
Forest department officials indicated that the closure is likely to be extended.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Bangalore is slowly killing us': Entrepreneur couple on moving out of city after 2 years
A couple that spent two years in Bengaluru has now decided to move out of the city, despite loving its vibe, weather and people. Aswin and Aparna attributed their relocation to Bengaluru's deteriorating air quality, saying they have both suffered ill health as a result. A Bengaluru-based couple decided to move out of the city after two years. (Instagram/@zindagified) In an Instagram post shared two days ago, the couple went into further detail about why they decided to move out of Bengaluru. Aswin and Aparna introduced themselves as 27-year-olds who are both 'working in corporate'. They also run their own business and have lived in Bengaluru for the last two years. In a video that opened with the provocative sentence 'You might hate us, but Bangalore is slowly killing us', the couple unpacked their decision to move out of the Silicon Valley of India. The couple explained that they love Bangalore for its weather, its vibe and its people. However, over a period of time, they began to notice how they were frequently falling ill. 'We started falling sick. I developed breathing issues and allergies," said Aswin. 'And I, who doesn't even catch a cold, is always coughing and sneezing,' added Aparna. The couple tried to fix their lifestyle by eating healthy and exercising daily. Eventually, they realised it was Bengaluru's air quality that was the root cause of their problems. Bengaluru's air quality problem 'People say Bangalore has fresh air and great weather, but does it really?' asked Aparna in the video. The couple explained that in February, they checked the AQI and were shocked to see it stood at 297 - placing Bengaluru in the 'very unhealthy' category, just short of 'hazardous'. Shocked by the air quality, the couple decided to leave Bengaluru for greener, cleaner pastures. 'Namma Bengaluru is amazing. Even to start a business, it's the best place to be but we had to make this choice as soon as possible. Before the city could sink us in, we left Bangalore,' they explained. 'Our job and our friends are here, but we have to put our health first,' they added. How the internet reacted Their video has gone viral with nearly 1 million views on Instagram. In the comments section, however, the couple face anti-migrant hate. 'Please leave, Bangalore was just fine before people started moving here for work and overcrowding the city,' wrote one user. 'Vacate Bengaluru everyone. So that people already living here can live in peace and get the fresh air back,' another person added. 'As a Bangalorean, y'all in the comments section gotta stop taking this so personally, and instead try to make our city safer for everyone,' a third countered.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
From filters to fillers: Gen Z's glitzy quest for ‘eternal youth'
HYDERABAD: In Hyderabad, twenty-somethings are queuing up for fillers, boosters, and futuristic therapies, with little regard for long-term consequences. Beauty, it seems, is no longer about ageing gracefully, but preventing age from showing up altogether, finds Ajay TomarWeeks before her wedding, Latha (name changed) visited a Banjara Hills-based clinic to enhance her appearance for her big day. The bride-to-be underwent several non-surgical aesthetic treatments such as dermal fillers to correct the asymmetry in her lips, enhance the defi nition of her nose bridge, and sharpen her jawline for a slimmer facial profile. She also went for additional fi llers in her cheekbones to add contour as she felt it would highlight her natural features. Ditto for Seetha, who trooped into a Madhapur-based clinic to fi x what she felt was sagging skin that made her look older than her age. She opted for a combination of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and botox injections to relax and slim her lower face to get a youthful appearance in a jiffy. Shockingly, neither Latha nor Seetha are battling midlife crises. While Latha is a 20-something, Seetha is in her early 30s. Increased access While the adage -'Age is just a number' – seems to no longer be the preserve of age-defying celluloid stars like Anil Kapoor, Nagarjuna, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta, plastic surgeons point to an alarming trend – youngsters unhappy with their looks making a beeline for quickfi x anti-ageing procedures. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Stor mage? Gör detta före läggdags och gå ner i vikt medan du sover Beauty Ideas Läs mer Undo Be it skin boosters, fi llers, botox shots, laser treatments or even newer procedures, skin specialists say conscious youngsters are increasingly opting for minimally invasive and non-invasive skin prejuvenation and regeneration treatments in their quest to delay signs of ageing even before they show up. Cosmetology and dermatology clinics report that while about a decade ago, only about six to seven people would turn up for such procedures each week, all of them in the 40-plus bracket. Today, the number has shot up three to four times with most of them being youngsters. 'Around eight to 10 years ago, most of our clients were in their 40s and above when wrinkles and skin sagging usually start showing. But now many in their mid-20s and early 30s are coming in to demand ageing prevention treatments,' says senior plastic surgeon Dr Priti Shukla. 'A lot of the damage is already done by the time signs of ageing appear on the skin,' she adds. Pre-emptive de-ageing Apart from the smaller procedures, some are even opting for advanced treatments such platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, HIFU, hybrid laser treatments and regenerative procedures such as exosome therapy that uses stem cells to improve collagen production, PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) therapy and nano-fat grafting. Data too seems to back this emerging trend. US-based market research fi rm Grand View Research pegs the Indian anti-ageing market at $2.5 billion in 2024 and projects it to reach $4 billion by 2033. So what is driving youth to such extremes in their pursuit for beauty? In an era of intense social media engagement and peer pressure, where the perfect selfi e and number of likes dictate the happiness quotient for many, the quest for that seductive pout or perfectly sculpted nose, well defi ned chin or jawline, or fi ne skin tone and perfect glow are pushing them to seek anti-ageing remedies. The supply surge also led to treatments becoming more affordable with costs varying from just Rs 5,000 to Rs 40,000 per session. 'Over the past decade, there has been a rise in active social media presence and the culture of photo and video sharing, prompting individuals to observe their skin more closely and be critical about it,' explains plastic surgeon Dr Sumeera Farhath SK. Studies also point to the rising popularity of South Korean television shows, which frequently portray skincare as a daily routine, among Indian youth as a signifi cant factor infl uencing their growing interest in cosmetics and skincare. Notably, South Korea is the world leader in cosmetic treatments and plastic surgery. Senior psychologist Dr Pragya Rashmi says starting cosmetic enhancements at an early age could also be an indicator of one's poor perception of self-esteem and body image. Flawed beauty standards Consultant psychiatrist and lifestyle expert Dr Purnima Nagaraja points out that most opt for cosmetic enhancements due to a distorted sense of one's own body image. 'There is a significant difference between how people actually look and what society expects from them. Many individuals try to live up to the image of a perfect body, fl awless hair, and ideal shape. This constant pressure is what drives many to go for cosmetic procedures.'
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
From pimples to peptides: How Gen Z turned the dermatologist into a beauty guru
Dermatology clinics are the new beauty salons. Consumers in urban India are no longer walking into a dermat's office with just eczema, psoriasis or some other chronic skin condition. They are increasingly consulting the dermatologist for everyday skin requirements, from dealing with pimples and dandruff to enhancing the skin texture and glow. The trend is mostly driven by teenagers and young adults, but older people, both women and men, are too seeking expert medical help for skin conditions that previously were managed with home remedies. Last year, Suresh (name changed to protect privacy) rushed to a South Delhi dermatologist, worried about pimples—'Can adults get pimples?' was one of his questions to the doctor. The 41-year-old was anxious that it would affect his looks at social engagements. The treatment cost him ₹20,000. 'The stigma around seeking help for 'non-serious' skin concerns has also faded,' says Bengaluru-based Priyanka Reddy, chief dermatologist and founder of DNA Skin Clinic, who has 556,000 followers on Instagram. People today are far more informed about skin health than they were ever before, thanks to social media, beauty influencers and easy access to medical info online. Live Events Both Indian and international companies have been focusing on science-backed skincare brands for a few years now. From Minimalist, now owned by Unilever, to Cetaphil, CeraVe and Honasa Consumer-owned The Derma Co, many brands are vying for the same section of the skincare market: the young and informed consumer. 'We've seen a noticeable uptick in both age groups (Gen Z and Gen Alpha),' says Chytra Anand, dermatologist and founder of Kosmoderma, a Bengaluru-based chain of dermatology clinics. Evidence-based Self-care 'In fact, teens and young adults now make up nearly 20% of new consultations at our clinics. For the 12–18 age group, the top concern is acne—mostly hormonal and sometimes compounded by lifestyle issues like diet, screen time, and stress. There's a growing interest in skin texture and glow, thanks again to beauty influencers and filter-free selfies,' adds Anand. Young consumers are taking 'picture-perfect' quite literally. According to Alok Malik, president and business head - India Formulations at Glenmark Pharmaceuticals , the rise in dermatologist consultations is not just a medical trend; it reflects a broader shift towards evidence-based self-care. 'We are seeing increased usage, which is intentional and informed adoption, with consumers actively choosing science-backed skincare over cosmetic hype,' he says. Known for brands like Maxrich YU, Episoft, Bontress and La Shield Kids, Glenmark has been pushing the prescription vs OTC line of skincare for years now. It is using a combination of dermatological recommendations and modern retail inclusive of ecommerce to reach the target audience. Dermatologists charge ₹1,000–4,000 or more for a visit in India's major cities. This is just the consultation fee. Chances are the doctor will prescribe serums with active ingredients, moisturisers and face wash—a three-four step routine based on products which would cost another ₹10,000 or more. 'Earlier, people would only see a dermatologist for chronic conditions like acne, eczema, or pigmentation that had persisted for years. Now, even a new pimple, suntan, or mild sensitivity prompts a visit, and rightly so,' adds Reddy. 'Skin is our largest organ, and people are beginning to treat it with the same seriousness they give to diet or fitness.' While this is still a fairly urban phenomenon, market research company Statista estimates India's skin treatments market to reach about $895 million (nearly ₹7,750 crore) this year. More than 64% of the customers of Foxtale, a Mumbai-based skincare startup, are Gen Z and the older edge of Gen Alpha — 'those just stepping into their teenage years', says Romita Mazumdar, its CEO and founder. 'On our website, we've seen a 2x increase in ingredient-specific search terms in the last year alone; terms like 'niacinamide', 'glycolic acid' and 'peptides' are constantly searched,' she says. 'Even parents are encouraging early visits, which is great. I've had 15-year-olds ask if they should combine azelaic acid with niacinamide, and college students worried about barrier repair after using too many actives,' says Anand.
