Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) Laboratory at Nehru Zoological Park

Why in News ?

A Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory will soon be established at Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad; it will be the first in-house facility of its kind in South India.

Objective and Significance

• The lab will enable rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases, post-mortem analysis and research on zoonotic diseases (animal to human infections) with strict safety protocols. This will accelerate the prevention and control of epidemics.
• Currently, the park is dependent on external laboratories for disease diagnosis, leading to loss of both time and resources.

Development Direction

• The existing mini-lab will be converted into a high-security BSL-3 lab by upgrading it with state-of-the-art equipment and required infrastructure.
• Discussions/collaborations are underway with the following institutions:
  • Telangana Veterinary Biological and Research Institute
  • PV Narasimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University
  • Other Government Research Institutes

Available facilities and future strategy

• After lab becomes operational:
  • Real-time disease diagnosis
  • Post-mortem to quickly ascertain the cause of animal death
  • Assist in disease prevention and long-term strategy formulation in the zoo
• Currently, area-wise fecal samples are sent from the park to BRI (Biological Research Institute) where the anthelmintic load is confirmed. An in-house lab will expedite the process.
• The park already has a dedicated animal hospital and quarantine facility where new or rescued animals are health tested and monitored; these will now become more effective.

Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad

• Location: Bahadurpura, Hyderabad, Telangana
• Year of Establishment: 1963
• Name: Named after India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
• Area: Spread over about 380 acres
• Type: It is one of the largest and modern zoos in India, developed on the principle of "open zoo", i.e. animals are kept in open enclosures in a more natural environment.