Czech gorilla and lions catch Covid
PRAGUE: A gorilla and two lions have tested positive for Covid19 at the Prague Zoo, which is closed amid lockdown restrictions.
‘‘Lions Jamvan and Suchi and male gorilla Richard tested positive today. Their symptoms have been mild so far. The lions have a cold and cough. Richard is tired and lost his appetite,’’ Director Miroslav Bobek said on his Facebook account yesterday.
The animals were most likely infected by staff and other animals would be tested, Bobek said.
Prague Zoo was in touch with other zoos with Covid19 cases.
In January, a troop of gorillas at the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park suffered from an outbreak of Covid19 that sickened several of the group’s eight members.
The Czech Republic has faced a renewed surge in Covid19 cases that has pushed its infection rate among the highest in the world on a per capita basis. — Reuters