India, July 29 -- The recent reopening of Gorakhpur and Kanpur zoos after a 56-day closure due to a bird flu scare has once again highlighted the ever-present threat of zoonotic diseases in India. In the aftermath of such incidents, much of the public discussion and policy response tends to focus on disease management systems, including surveillance, laboratory upgrades, and emergency protocols. However, as India observed World Zoonoses Day on July 6, 2025, with the theme One World, One Health: Prevent Zoonoses, it is important to recognise that animal welfare remains a critical but often overlooked factor in preventing zoonotic diseases.

In India, common zoonoses such as Japanese encephalitis, leptospirosis, scrub typhus, kyasanur fores...