Precautions taken at Calgary’s zoo after bird flu confirmed at nearby poultry plant

A man and his son look on in the penguin enclosure at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo on June 30, 2021. (Jeff McIntosh / The Canadian Press)

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is implementing measures to protect its birds after the confirmation of avian influenza nearby.

In a social media post put out Thursday morning, the zoo says it’s doing so “out of an abundance of caution.”

“The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza within 200 kilometres of the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo,” the post states.

“The health and well-being of the animals in our care remains our top priority.”

Additionally, in the post’s comments section, the zoo says avian influenza was detected specifically “at a commercial poultry operation.”

Because of this, the following precautions are in place:

• Foot baths for guests at the entrances of the Penguin Plunge and the Rainforest Aviary; and
• The temporary closure of the Jihad Shibley Rocky Mountain Aviary.

The zoo says its birds “will continue to have outdoor access where appropriate and weather permitting.”

“Our dedicated animal care, health and welfare team will continue to monitor the situation and prioritize the health and well-being of the animals in our care,” the post states.

Information about avian influenza is available online through Primary Care Alberta.