NAGPUR: Three tigers and a leopard that died of avian influenza at a rescue centre in Maharashtra's Nagpur district possibly contracted the infection after eating chicken, state Forest Minister Ganesh Naik said on Thursday.

The officials confirmed that a total of 3 tigers and one leopard died of the H5N1 virus, better known as bird flu, at an animal rescue centre in Nagpur in the last week of December. The fresh advisory issued to the state, includes:

The deadly avian flu virus, H5N1, has impacted wildlife at the Nagpur Zoological Park, claiming the lives of three tigers and a leopard. In response, all zoos across Maharashtra have been placed on high alert.

The wildlife authorities in Maharashtra have issued a state-wide red alert as three tigers and a sub-adult leopard have died after contracting the highly pathogenic avian flu H5N1 virus at Gorewada Rescue Centre in Nagpur.