Almost all poultry was killed in Reykjavík Farm Animal Zoo yesterday on the orders of the Agricultural Authority of Iceland out of fear for bird flu.
Halldór Runólfsson, head vet of the Agricultural Authority, told RÚV that these measures had been necessary because some of the Zoo’s birds had been diagnosed with the H5N2 and H5N9 branches of bird flu.
Close to 60 birds of seven different species were killed yesterday: Geese, ducks, pheasants, Icelandic hens, several kinds of doves and a golden plover.
The lives of three birds were spared, of two hawks and the wild eagle Sigurörn, who has been in the Zoo’s care since last summer. He will be released soon.
The cages where the infected birds were kept are being sterilized and can be used again after three months.
The type of bird flu found in the Farm Animal Zoo is not dangerous to humans.
