Larva-eating fish for West Bengal zoo ponds

KOLKATA: The Alipore Zooligical Gardens, along with other zoos in the state, are gearing up to battle dengue.


In an order, issued by West Bengal Zoo Authority on Wednesday, its member secretary, V K Yadav, ordered all six zoos in the state to release mosquito larvae eating fishes in the water bodies located there.

“Keeping in mind the safety of over 50 lakh people, who visit zoos in the state throughout the year, the officials are directed to release mosquito larvae eating fish like guppies, koi, minnows in the water bodies there, some of which have stagnant water,” it said.

The order also discouraged zoos to use chemicals in the water bodies that may pollute the water.

The order pertains to Alipore zoo, Bengal Safari in Siliguri, Jhargram mini zoo, Bardhaman Zoological Park, Rasikbeel mini zoo in Cooch Behar and South Khairbari in Alipurduar.

Since many water bodies in the zoos have stagnant water, authorities fear that they are breeding grounds for mosquito larvae that may trigger diseases like dengue and malaria. Hence, the decision. The order has to be implemented with immediate effect.