17 wild boars hit by disease in Kerala zoo

Thiruvananthapuram: The Thiruvananthapuram Zoo closed down yesterday, for the second time in the last month, after 17 wild boars were detected with the foot-and-mouth disease. The animals have been culled, authorities said yesterday.

Trouble first broke out on July 8 when the authorities closed down the zoo after an Indian Gaur and a dozen blackbucks fell victim to the disease.

A team of experts called in from Hyderabad confirmed that the deaths occurred due to the foot-and-mouth virus of strain 'O'.

The authorities launched a massive cleanliness campaign, after which the zoo was reopened to the public on July 24, only to close down again on Saturday.