Nipah scare: Footfalls dwindle at Kovai zoo over massive presence of bats

“The number of people visiting the zoo has slumped considerably in the last few days. This summer vacation, the zoo had about 1,500 people visiting on normal days, while it would more than double on weekends. Compared to such a steady crowd, the zoo received only about 900 visitors on Wednesday and a little more than 300 on Thursday,” said a zoo staff.

The drop in the number of visitors is attributed to the fear caused by the Nipah virus that has claimed the lives of a dozen people in neighbouring Kerala. Their fear has been further compounded by messages doing rounds in social media, especially WhatsApp, asking the public to avoid visiting the VOC Zoological Park due to the large-scale presence of bats there.

Thousands of bats could be seen clinging to the branches of the lush green trees inside the zoo. People selling ‘paani puri’, mangoes and other snacks near the zoo also reported lesser business following panic messages warning people against consuming food items sold at the spot.

However, to allay the fears of visitors, the zoo staff has taken up sanitising work in the premises on alternate days using bleaching powder.

“We have been asked to keep a close watch on birds and animals kept inside enclosures. If any bird or animal falls sick, or die, it should be reported to higher officials for further scrutiny,” said a staff.

Since the outbreak of Nipah in Kerala, officials of the Animal Husbandry department have been making daily visits to check the birds and animals in the zoo. “There is nothing amiss so far and all animals are in good health. People need not be afraid unnecessarily as there is no reported Nipah virus case in Coimbatore so far,” said an official.

Ironically, the sight of thousands of bats clinging to trees, which attracted a large number of visitors to the zoo, is now keeping them away.