Sofia Zoo Temporarily Closed Due to Death of Animals

The Sofia Zoo is closed temporarily, by an order of Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova.
According to the zoo website, the reason is the death of five herbivorous animals over the weekend. 

“It is early to tell what caused the death of the three gaurs, one camel and one yak”, the zoo director Ivan Ivanov told the Bulgarian National Radio public broadcaster. “I've set up a committee, we took samples from the dead animals and sent them for testing.”

According to the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, the clinical picture does not suggest that the animals died of the bluetongue disease, which has been wreaking havoc among livestock in several parts of Bulgaria.

“At this point we have no reason to worry of an epidemic, but it would be unpleasant if animals start dying in front of the visitors.” Ivanov said. 

The test results of the blood samples from the dead animals are due by the end of the week, but it is unclear when the zoo will reopen.