By KEN CARPENTER
Great Bend Post
The Great Bend Zoo at Brit Spaugh Park closed its bird exhibits Thursday to protect the zoo's bird population. Zookeeper and vet assistant Becca Curtiss explained why the birds need to be protected.
“There’s a new strain of avian influenza that’s coming into the area, and it’s highly pathogenic,” Curtiss said. “It can be easily transmitted to our birds. So we’re taking precautions to reduce the risk that they’re going to contract it.”
Many of the zoo's birds have been moved to indoor habitats while steps have been taken to prevent other birds from having contact with wild birds.
Avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, is a viral infection that occurs naturally in birds. Wild birds can carry the virus but may not always get sick from it. However, it can be fatal to some domesticated birds.
The zoo had a plan in place to protect the health of animals and humans as well as the zoo's business operations.
“We’re still open,” Curtiss said. “We’re just making some modifications. We’re not going to be selling the duck and fish food that you can buy at the front desk. We’re trying to encourage the native waterfowl or the wild waterfowl not to spend all their time here.”
Although most of the birds at the zoo have been vaccinated for avian influenza, that vaccine protects against an old strain of the virus and may not be as effective against the newer disease. The bird exhibits will remain closed until further notice.