Allahabad: Taking a serious note of the death of 11 Asiatic lions in Etawah Lion Safari on account of canine distemper — a viral disease among dogs which is generally spread by canine distemper virus (CDV) — the Allahabad high court has directed the state’s director of animal husbandry to file a compliance report within three months.The court directed that the report should contain as to what action is being taken to enforce the conditions laid down in a circular dated January 10, 2014, which made it mandatory that in any dog show a quarantine certificate is to be obtained and various other precautions should also be taken, particularly in respect of the communicable disease to the dogs.Canine distemper is a highly communicable viral infection in dogs and can affect humans and animals, including lions and tigers, as well as other animals in the vicinity.In addition to it, the court also directed the director of animal husbandry to state as to why dog shows are being held across the state without ensuring strict compliance of the aforesaid circular.Hearing a PIL filed by Dr Sandeep Kumar Paul, a division bench comprising Justice Pradeep Kumar Singh Baghel and Justice Pankaj Bhatia also directed the director of animal husbandry to file a compliance report within the time granted before this court positively. Failing which, the court shall be constrained to take a serious view against him.The court directed to list the matter as a fresh case on May 10 before the appropriate court by which date the compliance report along with an affidavit shall be filed by the director.The PIL had raised the issue highlighting the disease which is a highly communicable viral infection. It is stated that being airborne, the viral infection could affect other animals and humans within a radius of 32 kilometres.It is further stated that in 2013, a PIL (No-61400 of 2013) was filed before this court, wherein directions were issued for considering the grievances raised by the petitioner. In terms of the said directions, the director of animal husbandry issued a circular dated January 10, 2014, which made it mandatory that in any dog show a quarantine certificate is to be obtained and various other precautions should also be taken, particularly in respect of communicable diseases to the dogs.The petitioner stated that various dog shows are held across the state in which people participates from foreign countries and the dogs which comes from foreign countries are likely source of the said disease. In the PIL, it was brought before the court that on account of the said viral disease, publicly known as CDV, 11 Asiatic lions have died in Etawah Lion Safari and cases of the virus affecting animals have been reported in Panna Tiger Reserve (MP), Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and many others. Similarly, 37 lions have died within three months in Gir National Forest, Gujarat last year.

Stay updated with all the Allahabad Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.