Lioness dies of COVID at Vandalur zoo; 8 lions test +ve
A nine-year-old lioness has died of coronavirus at the Arignar Anna Zoological park in Vandalur while eight other lions have tested positive, a release stated.
“The lioness housed at the safari area of the zoological park died on Thursday evening at 6.15 pm. She had been asymptomatic and showed some nasal discharge only the day before and had been symptomatically treated immediately,” a zoo official said.
On May 26, five lions housed in the safari park area were reportedly showing anorexia (loss of appetite) and occasional coughing. The in-house veterinary team of the zoo took immediate action to investigate and treated the animals as per protocol.
Soon, a team of experts was also deputed by Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Tanuvas) to join the veterinarians of Vandalur zoo for investigation and blood samples, nasal swab, rectal swab, and faecal samples of 11 lions were sent to the National Institute of High-Security Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal. As per the laboratory test results, samples of nine lions out of the 11 tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Officials pointed out that the zoo has been scrupulously following precautionary measures prescribed in various advisories issued by the Central Zoo Authority, the Central and State governments from time to time.
All the lions which tested positive are under close observation and on a prescribed treatment regimen by the in-house veterinary team in close coordination with the expert team from Tanuvas. All animal keepers and helpers for these animal houses have been vaccinated too. Besides, PPE kits have been made mandatory for animal keepers, veterinary doctors, and field staff visiting the area.