9 Lions Test Positive For Covid-19 At Chennai Zoo

One lion died of COVID-19 and 9 other lions have tested positive for the virus at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur. "The lion housed at the safari area of the zoological park died on Thursday evening at 6.15 PM.

The deceased animal had been asymptomatic and showed some nasal discharge only the day before and had been symptomatically treated immediately," the Zoo said in a press release on Friday.

On May 26, five lions at Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur showed anorexia (loss of appetite) and occasional coughing.

Vandalur zoo authorities decided to test the big cats for coronavirus infection. Nasal and rectal swabs and faecal samples of 11 lions, housed at the zoological park, were sent to National Institute of High Security Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, which is one of the 4 designated institutes authorised to take up COVID-19 testing in captive animals. The COVID-19 test report of nine of the 11 samples came in positive.

All the lions which have tested positive are under close observation and on prescribed treatment regimen by the in-house veterinary team in close co-ordination with expert team from TANUVAS.

All animal keepers and helpers have been vaccinated. Separate set of animal keepers are engaged for each group of lions. PPE kits are mandatory for the animal keepers, veterinary doctors and field staff visiting the area.

The zoo was closed after the state government announced curbs to control Covil-19. Subsequently, all precautionary measures were taken in the zoo to avoid spread of the virus. However, it was not known how the lions contracted the infection, a source said.